Police Minister Bryan Kramer has refuted the report that 40 files relating to members of parliament are with the fraud squad.
He was responding to questions raised by Moresby North-East MP, John Kaupa, in Parliament recently.
During the recent session, Kaupa asked the Police Minister for an update of the case involving members of parliament.
“People of Papua New Guinea want to know, who are these people? Disla fail i go stap lo operesen, long veting proses. Wanem em mining blong veting proses?"
In response, Minister Bryan Kramer said he believes the statement, made by the former acting Police Commissioner, was misleading.
“The (current) acting commissioner requested for director for fraud to provide him that brief. I was sitting in that meeting and confirmed that there was no such 40 files,” Kramer responded. “So it appears that that statement was fake news or false statement.
“During those discussions I made it clear to the acting commissioner, and also in terms of fraud, that there is a process provided by law. And it is important to maintain the confidence, the neutrality and independence of police force that they conduct their investigations diligently and independently. And not to be influenced by third parties that might seek to pursue arrests of other members of parliament or political opponents, so to speak.”
The Minister clarified that based on protocol that has been in place for years, once a file has been vetted by fraud director, and if he considers that there is sufficient evidence, he then briefs the Assistant Commissioner of Police – Crimes, who is his immediate superior.
The ACP Crimes will then review the file and if satisfied that there is indeed sufficient evidence to progress the matter, the commissioner will then be notified and presented the file.