The justice fighter versus the pretender

By PNG Echo

In the fight against corruption, one man, Sam Koim, of Task Force Sweep (TFS), has stood steadfast and true, in spite of the attempted bribes and the threats he’s had to endure in the course of carrying out his duties and notwithstanding that he has to account to the very people that he is often investigating.

The difference is integrity

Sam Koim has walked this particularly dangerous and difficult tightrope with amazing aplomb, foresight and maturity – without ever losing his sense of purpose – without forgetting the commitment to those he’s serving – the people of Papua New Guinea.

And it seems he is making progress, in spite of being headed off at the pass by the cowboy who is currently the leader of the opposition and his Barmy Army running interference at every possible juncture – and why?  For Namah’s political gain.

Without a thought of the damage he’s doing, Namah’s been wading in, packing heat, with both guns blazing.  But alas he has a habit of missing his target – and the collateral damage is growing apace.  The people of Papua New Guinea  are cannon fodder to his raw ambition.

Namah’s latest stunt is insisting the TFS is an uconstitutional body and that a different investigating agency should take over the case of the Prime Minister’s alleged involvement in the Paraka case.

How many faces does Namah have?

Has he forgotten that it was he who was responsible for setting up this investigative body and that he  was also the person who chided the Prime Minister that TFS should be allowed to investigate when the first ‘Paraka’ K30 million was discovered to be missing.

Has he also forgotten how spectacularly unsuccessful other investigating agencies have been in the fight against corruption – which was why TFS was set up in the first place?

For him it’s ‘here today and gone tomorrow’.  He can’t be relied upon.  Namah sways with the wind.

I mean, who can forget his recent pronouncement – heralded by a lot of fanfare from his Barmy Army – that he’d not talk to mainstream media but only the social media.  I don’t think that commitment saw out the end of the first month.  It would be pure folly to take this man at his word.

Namah is irrational, he’s hasty and he’s a loose cannon.

Namah’s heart is not with the pursuit of justice (and the fight against corruption) but the pursuit of his own personal, selfish goals – they may include you this week but not necessarily next – he sways with the wind.

Namah: Hoist by his own Petard

Consider his words:

In light of what the Investigation Task Force Sweep Team (ITFST) Chairman Sam Koim said in today’s National Newspaper, he appears to have publicly ‘exonerated’ the Prime Minister on allegations of official corruption and fraud.

I condemn in the strongest possible terms and criticize his position as if his and the ITFST’s findings on the official complaint are conclusive

He’s misleading the public because as Koim explains::

First and foremost, we [TFS] do not have any authority to convict or exonerate a person suspected of committing a crime. However, we do make a professional judgement/assessment whether to pursue a case based on the availability of the evidence.
• Considering the availability of the evidence, we find that to proceed against the Prime Minister of this country on the letter of 24th January 2012 alone at this stage is unsustainable,

With not even a cursory idea of how the justice system works, Namah, however, further misleads by saying:

A properly constituted court of law is the only tribunal of fact which can determine on evidence and in accordance with law whether O’Neill wrote the directive letter of 24th January 2012 or not.

While TFS Chairman Sam Koim explains correct legal procedure, that he is duty bound to abide by:

The onus is on the State to build a strong case to proof beyond reasonable doubt once the case is put through the courts, not the courts. The Courts make findings on the strength of the prosecution case. Our ultimate aim is to secure conviction, not just arresting for the sake of arresting. The chances of securing conviction depend on the strength of the case we build at the investigation stage. Arrest comes after we are satisfied that we have a strong case supported by overwhelming evidence.

 

Far from finding the case “conclusive” as per the words of Namah, Koim promises:

If however, during the course of the ongoing investigations there is fresh evidence emerging apart from the letter warranting a further inquiry into the involvement of the Prime Minister, we will pursue it. The investigations are still continuing.”

 

And I would take Koim at his word.  Not so Namah, who, without a hope of ever getting a conviction his way, nevertheless instructs and insists that…

Everyone must call for the PM’s arrest and for him to be charged. Everyone must demand his resignation …

 

Ignore him, he doesn’t have the authority to make these demands, nor the integrity to effect real change for the better in Papua New Guinea.

On the other hand, Koim is doing a difficult juggling act – and yet managing to keep all the balls in the air. He is getting results.  He should be supported because his endeavours are bearing fruit – and that’s the first time that’s ever been able to be said in Papua New Guinea.