By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Courts usually dismiss high profile corruption cases because detectives do investigation with wrong motives, outgoing National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Director Chief Superintendent Mathew Damaru says.
On his departure, the long-time detective in many high-profile cases in the country left some words of advice for other investigators.
“When you investigate the crime, you don’t investigate the person. This is a mistake that many of us make today. That’s why many of our cases get thrown out because we investigate people and not the crime. After you get your training, you need to practice it,” he said.
“Practice what you learn , when you practice what you learn , you gain experience. The more you become experienced, you become professional in your job, you build yourself an integrity. People can make comments about you, they can curse you, they can do everything to tarnish your name. But your integrity will never be taken away from you but your integrity will never be taken away from you. Integrity is something that you built over the years and only you and only you will destroy your own integrity.”
Damaru also encourage the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Detectives during his farewell function at Bomana Police College last Thursday to work as a team.
“I always encourage you to work as a team. Investigation is all about working as a team. Team stands for Together Everyone Achieve Much. If you all work together, you will achieve much. As a detective you don’t work on your own; you work in teams. You work with other colleagues in other organizations if you want to succeed in any investigations,” he said.
Damaru said that he was a pioneer of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.
“Fraud Squad was formed around 1978 and Mr John ToGuata was the pioneer of the Squad. I joined the Fraud Squad in 1987. In 1989, former Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu proposed Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) which was rejected but instead formed Anti-Corruption Squad to be part of the Fraud Squad, which became National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Squad,” said Damaru.
“I was pioneer of the Anti-Corruption Squad in 1989 when it was formed and later in 1995, after graduating from Bomana Police College as Inspector became officer-in-charge of the Anti-Corruption Squad. I was appointed OIC of the National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Squad in 1999. Around 2001/2002 I applied to the PNG Incentive Fund for funding assistance to building a new office building at Konedobu. My application was approved and the current NFACD office at Konedobu was constructed and official opened in 2004. In 2005, I applied to the RPNGC top Management for the National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Squad to be elevated to a directorate which was approved and it became National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) as currently known,” he said.
Damaru, 61, joined the police force in 1979 after graduating from Awaba High School in Western Province.
Damaru is from Kiru village in South Fly of Western Province.
