8 Apr 2013

Businessman says corruption rife in Solomons

9:08 am on 8 April 2013

A businessman who set up a company in Solomon Islands says the lack of action by police over allegations involving government departments is another sign of corruption in the country.

Theo Van de Pitte lived in Solomon Islands between 2003 and 2007 - when he was told to leave by the immigration department.

Mr Van de Pitte says his company was given to other people without proper transfer papers and says when he went to the police in 2010 to complain about it, they did nothing.

Mr Van de Pitte met with the Police Commissioner John Lansley last month but was told they wouldn't reopen the case, or an earlier one involving the theft of thousands of dollars worth of equipment from his company in 2004.

"They try to let it go away by itself by just delaying delaying tactics. I think there are too many things that would probably be uncovered which would be very unpleasant."

Mr Van de Pitte filed a case in the High Court last year against the Immigration Department, Foreign Investment Division, and Business Registration unit.