Eoin Blackwell, AAP
Corruption in Papua New Guinea’s government departments has become
institutionalised, where illegality and secrecy is sanctioned to the
extent that the nation is now a “Mobocracy”.
That’s what the government of PNG has been told by its corruption watchdog, Task Force Sweep, which on Thursday handed its final report on its seven-month investigation into malpractice across government agencies.
Task Force Sweep was set up by PNG’s government in 2011 to investigate allegations of corruption in key government departments, such as Health and the powerful National Planning and Monitoring.
The full report has yet to be made public, but Mr Koim said 20 politicians will be referred to the ombudsman commission for further investigation, while 24 public servants had been suspended for “facilitating or benefiting from corruption”.
Mr Koim also said more than 10 lawyers will be referred to the PNG law society for investigation.
The taskforce has made headlines in recent months.
Last week, Mr Koim told AAP he had a prepared warrant for PNG’s powerful speaker, Jeffery Nape, although to date it has not been served.
Former foreign and planning minister Paul Tiensten fled to Brisbane in September after being summonsed by the taskforce to answer questions over the misappropriation of funds at the Department of Planning.
His case is now before the courts.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the report would be presented to cabinet for consideration.
Task Force Sweep will continue its investigations.
That’s what the government of PNG has been told by its corruption watchdog, Task Force Sweep, which on Thursday handed its final report on its seven-month investigation into malpractice across government agencies.
“Generally our investigations have revealed a very frightening trend of corruption in this country,” taskforce chairman Sam Koim says.Describing corrupt officials as a mob, Mr Koim said they had turned PNG from a “constitutional democracy into (a) Mobocracy”.
“The level of corruption has migrated from sporadic to systematic and now to institutionalisation, where government institutions are dominated by corrupt people who orchestrate corruption using lawful authorities.
“Institutions that are supposed to practise openness and provide check and balance are now becoming a secrecy haven, where they sanction illegality and secrecy.”
Task Force Sweep was set up by PNG’s government in 2011 to investigate allegations of corruption in key government departments, such as Health and the powerful National Planning and Monitoring.
The full report has yet to be made public, but Mr Koim said 20 politicians will be referred to the ombudsman commission for further investigation, while 24 public servants had been suspended for “facilitating or benefiting from corruption”.
Mr Koim also said more than 10 lawyers will be referred to the PNG law society for investigation.
The taskforce has made headlines in recent months.
Last week, Mr Koim told AAP he had a prepared warrant for PNG’s powerful speaker, Jeffery Nape, although to date it has not been served.
Former foreign and planning minister Paul Tiensten fled to Brisbane in September after being summonsed by the taskforce to answer questions over the misappropriation of funds at the Department of Planning.
His case is now before the courts.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the report would be presented to cabinet for consideration.
Task Force Sweep will continue its investigations.
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