The National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) is concerned with the number of cases being struck out or dismissed by the courts.
The most recent one was former police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki’s case. The Waigani Committal Court dismissed it on Tuesday after finding insufficient evidence against him.
In a press conference this afternoon, Fraud Director Matthew Damaru said: “We have come to a frightening stage where a number of ‘unusual interferences in the criminal justice process’ have led to the lost cases.
“The process of initiating the criminal justice process is now encumbered by an unusual vetting committee,” stated Damaru.
Apart from that, other factors the director outlined included: The Police Commissioner filing an affidavit in support of the case of an accused; public prosecutors being threatened with punishment for their vigilance in prosecuting cases; the Attorney-General claiming to instruct lawyers to appear for opposing parties yet agreeing to the same course; and many more.
“What we are witnessing is the frightening emergence of State institutions being captured and used for personal interests.”
He called on all public servants to be vigilant and do their jobs without fear or favour.
“At the moment, everybody is succumbing to corruption,” said Damaru.
“We will have to help ourselves and fight this.”
He said despite the numerous developments taking place, our future will be bleak if we allow corruption to spread unchecked.
(Fraud director Matthew Damaru, left, during today’s press conference at the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate at Konedobu.)