PNG Law Society President Hubert Namani says the real challenge is not only crimes themselves, but the country’s prosecution weakness and those committing crimes with impunity in the country.
These crimes, he highlighted, are money laundering threats, corruption, fraud against government programs, illegal logging and fishing, and tax crimes.
He was commenting on the financial grey-listing threat to the country.https://www.bankpng.gov.pg/publications/media/media-statement-png-works-prevent-grey-listing-status-what-it-means-and-whats-being-done
The Financial and Supervision Unit (FASU) produces strong intelligence, but “the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, and other agencies lack the skilled capacity, resources, and prioritisation to convert this intelligence into prosecutions and asset recovery.”
“As a result, criminals walk free, millions are lost, and public trust in the rule of law erodes,” Mr Namani stressed in a statement.
He warned that until the strengthens its prosecutorial systems (weak prosecution), the country will continue to struggle with enforcement and remain vulnerable to global grey-listing.