Police and Immigration are urged to return four motor bikes an Australian businessman donated to them, Friday.
Patrick Jumeau, Director of FLN Business Solution in Honiara, made the call yesterday after he learned the donation came from an Australian.
“This donation raises a lot of questions on ethics,” Jumeau said.
“In my view, and to ensure the police and immigration maintain their integrity, they must return the bikes to the donor,” Jumeau told the Sunday Star.
“It is totally unethical for the police and immigration to accept any donation from a businessman.
“It compromises their independence and integrity to accept such donation,” he added.
Jumeau is a retired detective who used to serve with the Australian Federal Police.
He used to lecture on issues of ethics at various institutions of the New South Wales Government.
Jumeau said the Australian businessman who donated the bikes, Ian Watts, would not do that in his home country.
“There’ll be public outcry if he did that to the Australian federal police or immigration.
“I wonder why he decided to do it here,” Jumeau said.
According to local businessman David Iro, who’s partnership with Watts resulted in the donation of the bikes, the donation was made as part of their community service.
He said the bikes would help the police and immigration perform their work more efficiently.
However, Jumeau said it is inappropriate and unethical for any law enforcement agency to accept gifts or donations from private business groups.
“The danger here is in the event the donor did something that warrants police or immigration investigation, that donor would always turn around and say to the police, look I’ve donated you some bikes.
“This is the kind of situation that must be avoided at the first place.
“Law enforcement agencies must never accept donations.
“In a case where the police need bikes to boost their patrol, they should approach RAMSI or Australian Federal Police to provide them the bikes.
“And if someone comes and offers to donate bikes as in this case, the police and immigration should simply turn it down.
“I am therefore calling on the police, immigration, and the city council to return the bikes.
“It is in their interest to do that to avoid these ethical questions hovering over their heads,” Jumeau said.
BY OFANI EREMAE
