Corruption eating into fabric of society: Judge

National

CRIME and prosperity do not go together and those involved in fighting crime should work to reduce it, says a judge.
Judge Oagile Betheul Dingake told the law and order summit in Lae that crime affected everyone.
Justice Dingake, originally from Botswana, was invited by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to speak on his country’s approach to fighting crime.
“One of the biggest crimes committed in almost every country is corruption, which is eating into the fabric of our society,” he said.
He said people could pass laws to reduce crimes “but if you do not educate people to depart from crime and corruption you will not succeed.”
“PNG needs to have committees like anti-corruption clubs set up to fight corruption at every ministry at all levels of the government and its sectors,” Justice Dingake said.
He said Botswana had been in the forefront of fighting corruption within its systems and PNG could learn from that.
“More focus is needed here in PNG to fight corruption so that it is reduced,” he said.
Defence Force Commander Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo said they had strategies in place to combat law and order in the country.
He said the military was looking at expanding its strength to 10,000.
“PNGDF as one of the government agencies, is contributing to combating law and order in the country to conduct sovereignty protection, address internal law and order issues, nation building and international obligations,” Toropo said.