POLITICAL TIES OF FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN CRIPPLING POLICE, SAYS MANNING

POLITICAL connections of foreign businessmen are crippling the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC’s) ability to extradite foreign criminals and stop transnational crimes in the country.

Police Commissioner David Manning fronted the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on citizenship matters this week at the State Function room in Port Moresby, revealing the major challenges that police face in identifying and prosecuting suspected foreign nationals doing business in Papua New Guinea.

Commissioner Manning said the RPNGC is well equipped with the assets to identify persons of interest but often times, the necessary information that arrives at their desks is very little to prosecute or very late.

He identified three major challenges police face when dealing with Immigrational citizenship issues, one that is of major concern, is that some foreign businessmen and women in the country have political connections.

The commissioner said there should be some transparency with these foreign nationals and their connections with politicians, so it would be easier for police to investigate suspected activities.

He also highlighted severe delays in international intelligence sharing and the ability to effectively extradite foreign nationals, as the two other major challenges of the RPNGC.

Commissioner manning said there is no division in the RPNGC that deals with immigrational citizenship issues and suggested that the committee set up a standing multi-agency task force.