Commission welcomes challenge

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Interim Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) chairman Thomas Eluh has welcomed the Ombudsman Commission’s court challenging its legality.
Eluh welcomed the proceedings saying the OC’s contention was that Icac was basically duplicating their roles and responsibilities.
“I have made my views known to the Ombudsman Commission on many occasions on the subject of duplication,” he said.
“However, I am not obliged to make further comments seeing that the matter is now before the courts.”
Eluh said yesterday that in spite of the constitutional reference on the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Olicac), it had so far not affected the functions of the office until the Supreme Court made a determination on the issues raised by OC.
Meanwhile, the interim Icac and its working team continue to carrying out its mandate to complete establishment of the office. Eluh said his office had already received a number of complaints and allegations of corruption in public offices.
He said this showed that the public was willing to use Icac to expose corrupt practices and improprieties in the public service.
However, Eluh stressed that Icac would not investigate allegations of corruption committed prior to the passing of Olicac.
“We will only investigate corruption incidents that were allegedly committed after Nov 12, 2020,” he said.
“Only if the new incidences are linked to previous incidences, then it can be investigated together with the other agencies like the Police and Ombudsman Commission.”
Eluh said that the passing of the Olicac was a sign of Papua New Guinea’s efforts in fighting corruption in public office.
He thanked the Government and the 96 MPs from both sides of Parliament who voted to pass Olicac last year.
The work leading up to the passing of Olicac started when then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare signed PNG as a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2004 in Apia, Samoa.
The Peter O’Neill led Government then endorsed the National Anti-Corruption Strategic Plan (NACS) 2010-2030 drafting the way forward for a multilateral approach to fight corruption by stakeholders in the private and public sectors.
The Marape-Steven Government then took significant strides to progress the development of the Olicac leading to the passing of Olicac by the current Government on Nov 12, 2020.
Eluh thanked fromer Justice Minister and Attorney Minister Davis Steven for his tireless efforts and leadership in progressing the Olicac until its final passage in Parliament.
He also acknowledged the Parliamentary Committee on the Constitutional Laws and Subordinate Legislation and its chairman Governor Sir Peter Ipatas of Enga for its support in reviewing and subsequent reporting to Parliament, paving way for the passing of Olicac.