ICAC to work with law agencies

By KELVIN JOE
THE function of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) is to work with the existing law enforcement agencies to address corruption in the country, interim chairman Thomas Eluh says. Eluh was responding to confusions over the role of ICAC, the Ombudsman Commission, police and other law enforcement agencies that fight corruption.
He said the role of Ombudsman Commission was to focus on leadership codes of leaders but its powers were limited and it could not arrest or prosecute offenders as ICAC and police did. “The Ombudsman Commission was mandated to police the leadership code of our good leaders and constitutional office holders, however, they do not have the arresting and prosecution powers,” he said. Eluh said Icac and police could complement each other and work with the Ombudsman Commission to address any issues of leaders associated with crime. “The OC can continue to manage the leadership code through the Public Prosecutor’s Office to refer our leaders to the leadership tribunal. “When a leader is investigated and, if criminal activity is involved, then they can refer the case to Icac.”