The National Court sentenced a former customs officer to four years in prison for official corruption and conspiracy to defraud.

Runny Dau Jiwaka province committed the offense while serving as a cargo officer at the Motukea Wharf Port Moresby.

Between August and September of 2018, Dau corruptly received K5,000 and conspired with others to allow a shipment of contraband cigarettes into the country. Normal processes were bypassed, and formal inspections of the shipment failed to happen before it was cleared. The 20ft shipping container contained 418 cartons of contraband cigarettes worth more than K2.8 million. The container also contained other unregistered items.

When sentencing Mr Dau, Justice Berrigan stated that Dau’s actions enabled the importers to avoid tax payments and customs duties on the contraband cigarettes which is a loss to the state. Moreover, Customs is a front-line agency protecting the country and its people from harmful and dangerous goods.

The court needed to treat such offenses seriously and sentence offenders to custodial sentences as a warning to other public servants.  The National Court sentenced Dau to four years in prison for one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of official corruption.