Press Release
FICAC STRENGTHENS BILATERAL KNOWLEDGE SHARING WITH VANUATU COUNTERPARTS
Posted by Media Team 12 March 2024
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has begun hosting a study tour with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of Vanuatu on strengthening bilateral knowledge sharing on anti-corruption investigation and prosecution between the two island nations.
Speaking at the opening of the study tour yesterday (11 March 2024), Acting Deputy Commissioner Ms Francis Puleiwai said that the objective of the study tour is to strengthen capacity by exchanging best practices on handling investigations, including financial investigations, money laundering, restraining orders and unexplained wealth. The study tour will also discuss the preparation of cases from the onset of investigation stage to the laying of charges as well as discuss challenges faced.
“This program is a fantastic opportunity for our Vanuatu counterparts for the knowledge exchange and the collaboration in the fight against corruption. We, at FICAC are committed to supporting the fight against corruption throughout the Pacific Region and we believe this program is a significant step in the right direction,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Puleiwai.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Puleiwai stated that fostering regional collaboration is critical in effectively combatting corruption and by learning through each other’s experiences, can we then strengthen the collective efforts to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in the Pacific.
The Anti-Corruption Program Manager & Specialist in the Pacific Ms Linh Tra Phuong Bui stated that the study tour was part of the regional project on Strengthening Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability in the Pacific Countries (Pacific Anti-Corruption Project) funded by the British High Commission in Fiji.
“This project has a long-term goal of contributing to building peaceful, just and inclusive societies by addressing a range of good governance and also corruption issues. This realisation of the goal requires improved and strong capacities to prevent and address the effects of corruption across all pillars and institutions of governance,” said Ms Bui.
Ms Bui stated that the project activities also include international and regional peer-to-peer cooperation and knowledge sharing; and supporting the capacities of the criminal justice system and other institutions such as prosecution, judiciary and financial intelligence units to better detect, investigate and prosecute cases regarding the misuse of public funds and related financial crimes.
The Office of the Public Prosecutions of Vanuatu is the Office designated by the Vanuatu Government as the Anti-Corruption Office that will undertake the investigation and prosecution of corruption offences.
The week-long study tour has been specifically designed to explore all key elements of investigation and prosecution as well as enhance the mutual collaboration between the two agencies.
