Corruption busting task force clarifies prosecution role
21 July 2013
RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL
PAPUA NEW GUINEA’s anti-corruption body, Task Force Sweep, has clarified that its role only goes as far as the committal stage of the prosecution process.
The taskforce was set up by the government to investigate and prosecute white collar crimes, especially corruption in government departments where millions of dollars have been misused.
Questions have been raised in parliament as to why no one has been convicted as a result of the 59 arrests the team has initiated.
The task force chairman, Sam Koim, says his team does not have the authority to convict a person who is arrested and charged for corruption-related cases.
He says it is the role of the judiciary to adjudicate cases brought before it after the committal hearing.
Twenty-seven cases have progressed to the National Court for trial while the rest are still in the committal stages. A number of trials are lined up from next month onwards.
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