Source: Post Courier

THE Interim Office Against Corruption (IOAC), which was established by the government recently, would carry out investigative work to weed out corruption in the country.

Chairman of IOAC and former Judge Graham Elis said the IOAC intends to issue media releases every two weeks on its activities.

He said in a statement yesterday that the media releases would help inform the people of PNG and promote the goals of accountability and transparency that are the hallmarks of good governance.

"It is not enough for an anti-corruption body such as the IOAC to expect good governance of other agencies, the IOAC should lead by example," Mr Elis said.

He said accountability in an anti-corruption context involves reporting what has been done and why.

"Plainly there are some aspects of the work of the IOAC that need to be kept confidential.

However, it is not appropriate for a body such as the IOAC to do what it likes without revealing that to anyone.

For example, it would be wrong for the Chairman of the IOAC to spend a lot of money going on numerous overseas trips without telling anyone what was done, why it was done or how much that cost. If that was done and no one was told then there would be no accountability," Mr Elis said.

He said transparency denotes an ability to see what is happing, in contrast to keeping what is happing secret.

"Justice as I issued a monthly news letter while I was serving as the resident judge in Enga Province, these fortnightly media releases are my way of keeping the people of Papua New Guinea informed about the work of the IOAC since it is the people of Papua New Guinea I seek to serve," the former judge said. He added that the IOAC was independent in that it not been the subject of any direction or control by either the Prime Minister or the National Executive Council.

"As Chairman of the IOAC, I have not met or communicated with any MPs since my appointment, save for a brief ‘courtesy call’ on the Prime Minister on Monday July 7 at which the Chief Secretary and Acting Chief Secretary were present.

No previous, current or proposed investigations or court cases were discussed at that meeting," he said.

He assured that the IOAC has not been compromised and is focused on working in a more impractical and transparent manner without fear of favor.