Money is at the center of many challenges in the public offices which result in corrupt conduct of officials and the abuse of power. This was highlighted by a public official during a seminar in Port Moresby recently. 

“Corruption is peculiar in every office. Amongst those institutions, they also have challenges, and money is at the center of it all,” the Public Solicitor said. 

Mr Leslie Mamu was one of the four panelists at a discussion forum co-hosted and organised by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Papua New Guinea Law Society on 4th July 2024. 

He said corruption is deeply rooted in the PNG society and we need a change of approach and mindset from individuals or groups to reduce or prevent corruption. 

He challenged lawyers to take the lead in combating corruption and to work in collaboration with the anti-corruption agencies.  

“Corruption will remain with us. The challenge is how we deal with it,” Mr Mamu said. 

Sharing the same view, the ICAC Deputy Commissioner Prevention & Corporate- Graham Gill, stated that a lot of corruption in the country is simplistic and straight forward theft. 

He highlighted that one of the roles of ICAC is to roll out prevention programs to break corruption.  

“When you look at the context of corruption in PNG, it is fair to say that 20 per cent of government spending is lost through corruption, waste or error in any given year,” Mr Gill said. 

“Prevention is about putting in place programs, procedures, policies, methodology, to make sure that fraud and corruption doesn’t happen.  

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) co-hosted an engaging legal seminar at the Lamana Hotel on 4 July 2024. 

This event was in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Law Society, and it was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the European Union (EU)-funded project, Preventing and Countering Corruption in PNG. 

There was a huge turnout among those in the law and legal professions in PNG, with more than 140 attendees at the event. 

The seminar was informative and educated legal professionals about the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (OLICAC). Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions and hear from key legal professionals in the PNG government and legal sector. This included: 

• Keynote presentation:
• ICAC Commissioner, Andrew Forbes  
• Panelists: 
• Supreme and National Court Judge- Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika 
• Internal Revenue Commission- Commissioner General, Sam Koim  
• Office of the Public Solicitor- Public Solicitor, Leslie Mamu 
• ICAC Deputy Commissioner Prevention and Corporate, Graham Gill 

The event was chaired by the President of PNG Law Society – Hubert Namani. During Mr Namani’s welcome speech, he said: “Understanding roles and structure of ICAC is crucial, whether we are handling complaints or defending clients. Knowing how the ICAC operates is key to ensuring we do our part in upholding justice and integrity.” 

L-R: ICAC Deputy Commissioner- Prevention & Corporate Graham Gill, NJSS Chief Justice of PNG Sir Gibbs Salika, EU Ambassador to PNG Jacques Fradin, IRC Commissoner Sam Koim, PNG Law Society President Hubert Namani, ICAC Commissioner Andrew Forbes and Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu were panelists and VIPs during the recent seminar at Lamana in Port Moresby.                 -PICTURE: ICAC MEDIA 

EU Ambassador to PNG, Jacques Fradin, co-opened the event. Ambassador Fradin congratulated the ICAC on its one-year anniversary and encouraged the commission to forge strong partnerships with anti-corruption agencies and maintain existing partnership to continue the fight against corruption.

He also emphasised that the ICAC should be granted the necessary independence to conduct its roles and functions fully. 

“The establishment of the ICAC in 2018, is in line with Article 6 of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), requiring the State to establish the body responsible in the prevention of corruption and the implementation of the prevention policies,” he said. 

ICAC Commissioner Forbes stated that combating corruption in PNG needs collaborative efforts. He added that addressing corruption “is a multifaceted exercise that needs many agencies coming together”.

The Commission provided the keynote address and took the participants through the roles and functions of the ICAC in line with the OLICAC. 

Supporting the work of the ICAC, Commissioner General of IRC applauded the ICAC for hosting the seminar and involving the legal professionals. He shared the same view as the ICAC’s Commissioner on effective collaboration in combating corruption.  

Mr Koim highlighted that corruption can only be addressed by integrity agencies cooperating and coordinating their efforts. 

“Lawyers are the gate keepers to corruption and the gateway to corruption,”  

He also added that the move by ICAC to host such an event in collaboration with the PNG Law Society was a strategic move in combating corruption.  

He also commended Chief Justice Sir Gibbs’ commitment to be part of this event and sharing his experience in the legal system and on addressing corruption in the country. 

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) joined more than 1000 others in the Walk Against Corruption on Sunday 16 June 2024.

ICAC staff and Bomana Sacred Heart Teachers College students in action marching and chanting anti-corruption messages during the Walk Against Corruption in Port Moresby. -PICTURE: ICAC MEDIA

The Sir Anthony Siaguru Walk Against Corruption aims to enhance collaboration and solidarity in the fight against corruption in the country. The Walk was coordinated by Transparency International PNG (TIPNG). The theme for the 2024 Walk Against Corruption was ‘Rise Up Against Corruption’.

The ICAC joined other government departments, private sector bodies, businesses, civil society organisations and schools. All participants indicated an enthusiastic support for rising against corruption.

The ICAC registered three teams and sponsored two school teams-Gerehu Secondary School and Bomana Sacred Heart Teachers College who walked alongside ICAC staff. The team worked collaboratively to their support by chanting:

“Walk with pride side by side. Stop corruption in its stride. Stopim korapsen, stopim korapsen, stopim korapsen NOW!”

The Walk Against Corruption is an annual fundraising event for TIPNG. It is also aimed at providing an avenue for citizens to peacefully express their stand against corruption as well creating awareness amongst the public on the impact of corruption in the country.

ICAC’s Executive Director Deanne Allan stated that: “It was a privilege to be part of this event, and so encouraging to see the level of support for rising against corruption in PNG. The ICAC must collaborate with others to effectively counter corruption, and I can certainly see a public enthusiasm for the work as well. I can’t wait for the Walk in 2025”.

Most ICAC staff shared the similar sentiments as Ms Allan, sharing their experiences as “exhilarating and inspiring walking with like-minded individuals” and that they also look forward to “involving their families” in the next Walk.

The ICAC has strongly emphasised that it cannot be intimidated from carrying out its mandated function to investigate the conduct of public officials and public bodies including private individuals/entities who may have received or have influenced the use of public money.

Deputy Commissioner Daniel Baulch expressed this in a media conference on Monday 22 April 2024 at the ICAC office in Port Moresby. DC Baulch, noted that the ICAC has become aware that there are some who think they can attempt to intimidate the ICAC. “Let us be clear…you cannot and will not intimidate us from fulfilling our sworn commitment to the people and government of PNG”.  

He said in recent months the ICAC has quietly commenced investigations and started gathering evidence of corruption, adding that the Commissioners are not shocked about what they have seen so far, but disappointed in the willingness of some to steal from their fellow citizens, and to seek enormous wealth while others struggle. The Deputy Commissioner said he could not go into details of investigations at this time, to ensure ICAC investigations are not compromised as well as to ensure that persons of interest are given a fair and unbiased hearing before the court. However, he said the ICAC has received more than 100 complaints, most of which are bribery cases. “People are expecting additional payment just for doing their role” Baulch said.

Deputy Commissioner Baulch further added that the ICAC is recruiting more people for the fight against corruption. The people of PNG have had enough of corruption and corrupt people stealing their future. He said, “Millions of Kina is lost each year, money that could be used to provide schools, roads, and healthcare”.

He warned those who are involved in corrupt conduct or committing fraud, bribery, or are in any way misusing public money that, “corruption always leaves a trail that cannot be completely erased. The ICAC will use every means available to expose those involved in defrauding the state and the people of millions of Kina”,  

Media Conference at the ICAC Office Port Moresby

Deputy Commissioner Baulch appealed to those who have been engaging in corrupt conduct to report to ICAC before their associates report them to ICAC. “Be first in the door, not last if you’re corrupt,” he said.

 He said the ICAC Commissioners have committed themselves to come to PNG to help the people of PNG fight the scourge of corruption, adding that “the fight against corruption is not for ICAC alone. It is everyone’s fight”.

The role of the ICAC is to investigate and prosecute corrupt conduct and to carry out anti-corruption awareness and prevention activities. Belinda Hughes, the Executive Director Legal Division of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), met with the Gulf Provincial Coordination and Monitoring Committee in Kerema on 20 March 2024.

Ms Hughes noted that “Corruption takes away money for services to the people. This means that money is in people’s pockets when it is supposed to be used for roads and hospitals”. She added that the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (OLICAC) applies to all public officials and public bodies as well as private individuals/entities who may have influence on the use of public money or otherwise.

Ms Hughes and the Committee members had a productive question and answer session, including questions about the ICAC’s coercive powers under the OLICAC. She advised that committee members could be required to produce documents, materials, or thing for purposes of investigations or enquiries even if they did not receive or misuse public money but have one way or the other facilitated the use of public money.

She further added that PNG ranks poorly on the global scale with a ranking of 29 out of 100, a ranking which is just above the countries currently at war.

“This shows that we have a lot to do to improve PNG’s ranking. And it cannot be done by ICAC alone. We need everyone to work together to lower the level of corruption in the country”, said Ms Hughes.

While in Kerema, the ICAC also visited a local school and delivered mugs and sports equipment to the teachers and students.

ICAC Executive Director Legal, Belinda Hughes speaking at a room full of participants at the first Gulf Provincial Coordination and Monitoring Meeting after three years of nonoperation. The Committee is an extended arm of the of the Provincial and Local Level Government Services Monitoring Authority, purposely for monitoring national and provincial development priorities.