PNG Prime Minister Reaffirms ICAC Independence Amid Suspension Controversy
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reiterated his commitment to preserving the independence of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) following public allegations from two suspended deputy commissioners.
Suspended ICAC officials Graham Gill and Daniel Baulch accused Marape of interfering in the operations of the anti-corruption body. Gill claimed on LinkedIn that he and Baulch had been suspended by an email from the Prime Minister, who chairs the appointments committee, four months ago without explanation.
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| PNG Prime Minister Reaffirms ICAC Independence Amid Suspension Controversy |
In response, Marape issued a statement clarifying that the suspensions were lawfully handled under the Organic Law on ICAC, the Constitution, and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership. He stressed that the matter was not political but stemmed from internal disputes among senior ICAC officers.
“As a senior officer of the law, the suspended Deputy Commissioner Daniel Baulch should know that due process must be allowed to take its full course,” Marape said. “He remains innocent until proven otherwise by the Judicial Tribunal to be established by the Chief Justice.”
The Prime Minister said an inquiry had been carried out by a panel chaired by the Secretary for the National Judicial Staff Services, with the State Solicitor and Secretary to the National Executive Council as members.
Marape described it as disappointing that senior officers appointed to combat corruption were instead clashing with each other. “Two or three years on, instead of fighting corruption, these gentlemen have been fighting among themselves despite the major budgetary support my government has given to ICAC,” he said.
He reaffirmed that his government would continue to allow due process to determine the facts and separate hearsay from truth.
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