By COURTNEY MIRUPASI
Former Assistant Commissioner Crimes and now Chairman of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Thomas Eluh has recommended to the Law and Justice Society for a need to establish ‘Failed Prosecution Panel’.
Mr Eluh said the prosecution success rate in the country continues to fall and the establishment of the panel will ensure those responsible will be held accountable.
He said those who don’t play their part well, thus failing prosecutions of any criminal cases will appear on the panel and explain to the nation as to why and how this is happening.
Mr Eluh was speaking during the recently concluded four-day Crimes, Prosecutions and Internal Affairs Workshop held at Stanley Hotel last week.
“I’ve read on the newspapers almost every day and you know what I see, cases are being thrown away because of insufficient of evidence.
“Have these cases gone through the checklist and the systems without anyone detecting the performance and then eventually it ends up in court,” Mr Eluh asked.
“We are not selfish enough to protecting investigations and prosecutions because our heart to serve with is not there, its elsewhere.
“I recommend very strongly a ‘Failed Prosecution Panel’ must be introduced within the organization quickly,” Eluh said.
Mr Eluh further stressed that there was no professionalism and ethic being applied while dispensing investigations and prosecutions roles.
“These days I see police men and women, investigators, and prosecutors do cases for people that have money. Such people like politicians, bureaucrats, technocrats, business people, you name it.
“We are not after professionalism or ethics but we are after money and that is where corruption creeps in.
“By then the image of the organization is gone, the image of the Commissioner is gone, the image of the minister and everyone else is gone because of our stupid attitude in the way we handle things.
“We are not doing enough although we know what is wrong. Let’s step up and assist the management.
“Please work with your commissioner, minister, and your senior officers and together lift this police force. It is our police force, let’s take some pride in it,” Mr Eluh reiterated.
