A thorough review is underway at the country's corruption watchdog the Ombudsman Commission, in a move to make the commission better able to fight corruption in the country.
Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua says, the Commission's Strategic Plan is being reviewed and is at a stage where the public will be consulted on their inputs on how to strengthen the Constitutional Office. Mr. Lua revealed this while making a presentation at the 7th Annual General Conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities in the Republic of Panama recently. This year's theme of the conference is The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption - Challenge and Opportunity. Chief Ombudsman Lua spoke about the role and challenges of the Commission in both investigating administrative complaints against leaders, and imposing the Leadership Code in PNG. Mr. Lua says while a fair number of leaders, mainly politicians have been referred and successfully prosecuted since the inception of the Leadership Code, it is sad that the system is not strong enough, allowing most of them back into public office, rather than being terminated for life. Most leaders prosecuted under this law, only pay a fine as punishment. Mr. Lua says these scenarios are a problems in the system, describing the administration of the Leadership Code as adhoc and vulnerable to further abuse and corruption to thrive, if not addressed quickly, listing a number of reasons for his statement. These he says, include no permanent tribunal to judge over leadership matters, coupled with delays with both the Public Prosecutor in deciding whether or not to prosecute a leader, and the Chief Justice in swiftly appointing a tribunal on time. He says leaders implicated, often escape prosecution after their term in office expires. Mr. Lua highlighted further problems in the Chief Justice appointing members of the tribunal at his own discretion without any prescribed guidance or criteria, saying such appointments could allow favouritism and nepotism which may lead to bias, unfair and an unfavourable decision in the end. The Chief Ombudsman says, in order to improve the system, these adhoc arrangements should be done away with and replaced with a permanent Tribunal. Mr Lua says, this Tribunal will be appointed by an Appointment Committee which comprises Government, Judiciary, Legal, business, churches and NGO's, and not the Chief Justice. Mr. Lua also suggested the removal of the Public Prosecutor in prosecuting leadership matters, and leave it to the Ombudsman Commission. Mr. Lua says some of these considerations are being reviewed in the Commission's Strategic Plan. The review is at an advanced stage, where the public and key stakeholders are about to be consulted before a final view is present to the Government for laws to be changed and hopefully passed by Parliament. The Chief Ombudsman is confident that these changes would be made during his term in Office. Rigo Lua is PNG's sixth Chief Ombudsman, who was appointed following Chronox Manek, who passed on, while serving in the office. His attendance to the Annual General Conference of International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities in Panama, is his first overseas engagement. Comments are closed.
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