FIJI Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) acting commissioner Lavi Rokosuka says they are unable to share information with enforcement agencies such as the Inland Revenue Department because it’s prohibited by law.
She said Parliament should consider passing laws that would allow the controlled information-sharing among enforcement agencies.
“We’re unable to share any information because there’s no provision that allows us to share that information,” Ms Rokoika said.
“Maybe, if that’s something that Parliament could look into — the sharing of information between enforcement entities.
“That will assist in our work.”
She said FICAC had seven memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), Fiji Police Force, Immigration, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Ministry of Justice, Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
However, she said these MOUs needed to be updated.
“Unfortunately, these are very, very old MOUs. I’m in the process of trying to — once I’m a bit free — get in touch with the heads of the units so that we can improve these MOUs.
“These MOUs are more than 10 years old, so it needs to be updated.”
Ms Rokoika said FICAC was also working to strengthen its international ties, holding talks with the Australian Federal Police and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations to seek training and technical support.
