SOLOMON IS: Police deny corruption allegations
Updated
The Executive Officer of Transparency International in Solomon Islands fears that corruption within the police force could be on the rise. Joses Tuhanuku says there are signs that the police force is adopting corrupt habits similiar to those used during the height of the ethnic crisis in 2000. Mr Tuhanuku alleges the government's opposition to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI is encouraging corrupt officers in the force to return to their old ways.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speakers: Joses Tuhanuku, Transparency International Solomon Islands: Mohammed Jahir Khan, Solomon Islands Commissioner of Police
TUHANUKU: So we started to see a sign of the force coming out of it darkest days. But unfortunately, I would say that recently, the position pursued by the government and the new commissioner of police appear to have encouraged people who may not like to see those positive changes to happen, to slide back to their old ways. I can see that corruption is going to creep back into the place. There's going to inefficiency and it's a very bad sign.
In the last two or three years, we were very happy with the outcome, but now we start to see things declining, and I blame the government of the day and the new commissioner of police for all these negative things that are happening.
COUTTS: Now Mr Tuhanuku, is it that you have evidence that crime within the police force is on the rise or is it that you fear crime will increase?
TUHANUKU: Well at the moment, I'm not using the word crime. I'm referring to corruption and the thing is that there is a need for proper investigation to establish if there are any crimes within the force. But the important thing to note is that you can easily tell when the force is not functioning, when it is becoming inefficient again, when it's not functioning properly. It has been in the last two years.
COUTTS: Well, how can you tell? What evidence do you have to suggest that that is happening?
TUHANUKU: Well, because we can see it.
COUTTS: But what are you seeing?
TUHANUKU: They are starting to, they have been evasive that investigation have been carried out and some out of the blue they have decided to drop the case or do not charge people and it seems to me now that the commissioner of police is directly answerable to the office of the prime minister. He can arrest anybody that the prime minister's office decide should be arrested and I think that the prime minister's office would also stop any arrest being made if it's not in their interest.
COUTTS: Solomon Islands Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Jahir Khan, has ordered his officers to get a statement from Joses Tuhanuku about his allegations.
KHAN: Yeah, I'm also surprised and amazed after reading that article. Since then, I have directed two things. One is to look how serious the allegations that have been made by the gentleman in the newspaper. Secondly, I've directed the intelligence officers to approach him and get a statement from him in order to advance our investigation and I would like to know whether what he is telling is the truth. If it's not the truth, then he's making baseless just comments in the media. It is possible comments in the media, then definitely there will be a cause for some charges against the person concerned. But I take it that this particular gentleman has been very vocal in the media, making baseless allegations against the police force, against individuals in the government, and against everybody. I just wanted to know what his basis of his allegations are that he is making, where is it getting this from and where are the facts and figures and or what are the evidence what he is telling the media? Because it has to be a responsible reporting to the media and the media concerned must also be careful what they are reporting about. Because this matter I will be fully investigating.
COUTTS: Now Commissioner Khan, I take it then that it is not evident to you as police commissioner that this is actually the case?
KHAN: No, definitely not. Solomon Island is a very peaceful country and the crime rate is very low here in Solomon Islands, compared with many other neighbouring Pacific Island nations. And I do not know why this kind of deliberate reporting is being done by irresponsible people.
COUTTS: Some of the allegations made that the government's opposition to RAMSI is encouraging corrupt officers in the force to return to their old ways. Again what is your attitude to that statement?
KHAN: No, there is no evidence to that effect and my police officers are very loyal police officers. We are moving in the right direction to develop this police force and I'm very impressed with the delegation that I am getting from members of the police force.
COUTTS: And one other allegation also made was that the police crime has included letting people off charges?
KHAN: No, there is nothing, there is a great deal of accountability in the Solomon Island police and we are keeping a tag of every action the police are taking and I'm very encouraged with the positive action the Solomon Island police are taking.
