Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-AU
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;}
Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast has welcomed the Anti-Corruption Bill 2016.
The Bill aims to combat corruption in Solomon Islands in all its forms by:
a) Establishing the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption offences; and
b) Establishing a system for receiving and managing complaints about potential corruption engaged in by persons in the public and private sector; and
c) Introducing measures to prevent corruption, including raising public awareness about the effects and prevention of corruption.
Appearing before the Bills and Legislative Committee yesterday in Parliament, Prendergast said there was a need for the Police to work with SIICAC both in exchange of information and also providing resources.
Prendergast said also there was need for police officers to work with SIICAC at the direction of the Commissioner in terms of corruption investigations.
“I also welcomed the modernisation of corruption offences,” he said.
However, Prendergast has raised an issue on section 41 of the Bill in relation to informing subject of investigation.
It stated that as soon as practical after beginning a corruption investigation, the Director General must give each person whose conduct is being investigated written notice of investigation:
a) Detailing the alleged conduct being investigated; and
b) Inviting the person to provide a written response to the allegations before a specified date.
Prendergast said from a law enforcement perspective, it’s not always desirable to let a subject of an investigation know early on in an investigation.
He said doing that could lead to possible destruction of evidence or interference with investigation.
“Generally the process of investigation is all the evidence collected and at appropriate time these evidence will put together for subject involved in investigations
“Other than that I support the bill because the way it constructed will allow the Police to work together with the Commission,” he said.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
