Papua New Guinea Gains Expertise in Investigating Financial Crime and Corruption
============================================================
Papua New Guinea has taken a significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime with an intensive training workshop held recently in Lae, Morobe Province. The three-day event, organized by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from the European Union, brought together over 40 public officials from eleven provinces to enhance their skills in investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption.
Effective Investigations into Financial Crimes
The training workshop focused on conducting effective investigations into money laundering connected to corruption and other financial crimes. Participants included representatives from various agencies such as:
- Auditor General’s Office
- Department of Justice and Attorney-General
- Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit
- Investment Promotion Authority
- Interim Independent Commission Against Corruption
- Office of the Public Prosecutor
- Ombudsman Commission
- Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary
According to UNODC Officer-in-Charge and Anti-Corruption Adviser Graeme Gunn, many countries worldwide have benefited from this training, and he is proud that UNODC has brought it to Papua New Guinea. Effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws is crucial for the country’s goal of having effective systems and processes in place to hold corrupt actors accountable.
Commitment to Fighting Corruption
Deputy Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney General Josephine Pitmur emphasized the importance of applying new anti-money laundering laws and proceeds of crime powers to deter and punish wrongdoing. She also commended all participating agencies, saying that only together can they make a significant impact in the fight against corruption.
The workshop was conducted by UNODC’s Jason Reichelt, who delivered a highly practical and interactive program with further support from Josephine Mann of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The training is part of the Project on Preventing and Countering Corruption in Papua New Guinea, implemented jointly by UNODC and the UN Development Programme PNG, and funded by the European Union.
Call to Action
In his closing remarks, Chair of the interim Independent Commission Against Corruption Thomas Eluh emphasized that the people of Papua New Guinea expect and deserve to have all public agencies work together to combat corruption. He commended the participating agencies for their commitment to fighting corruption and urged them to continue working together to achieve their goals.
This training is a significant step forward in Papua New Guinea’s fight against financial crime and corruption, and it is expected that the country will see improved investigative skills and effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws as a result.