27 Jun 2013

Solomons watchdog asked to refer corruption claims to police

7:16 pm on 27 June 2013

Transparency Solomon Islands has called on the country's corruption watchdog to refer serious cases to criminal investigators.

The request came as results were released from the Regional Assistance Mission's people's survey on accountability.

The group welcomed the rising rate of reports to the Leadership Code Commission, or LCC, which has climbed from 12 percent in 2011 to 36 percent this year.

But under current rules, the LCC can only issue misconduct fines and Transparency Solomon Islands has asked that it refer more cases to the corruption squad or the public prosecutor.

The survey also showed an increase in the number of people who are too afraid to report corruption.