Transcript
MATHEW DAMARU: The case has been dragging on for three years. It's created a perception that he's guilty, that's what he's trying to suppress. If he's innocent, just come to the fraud squad office, present himself, and (the fraud squad will) have him processed, and then he can go to court and defend himself.
JOHNNY BLADES: He has characterised that investigation as politically motivated, hasn't he?
MD: That's an assumption. There's no truth to it. Because if that was the case then the judicial proceedings would have found that out and they would have won the case. But the court has found nothing wrong with our investigations. This case has been dragging on for three years, this warrant of arrest. Delaying of justice is denying justice, so I think how long can we keep on coming up with all sorts of proceedings after proceedings? Might as well have it done and dealt with, you know.
JB: The prime minister, I think back in 2014 or 2015, amongst the things he said about this whole matter was that he didn't accept the way that the fraud squad had gone about trying to get him arrested. He was suggesting that it was not the right way to approach the prime minister. Could you have asked him in for questioning without an arrest?
MD: Would he really come down if we just asked him to come? He would not come. So you have to be forced to come. It's taken us this long, it's because of all the proceedings that he's been taking out to suppress the progress of this case.
JB: Of course it's just one of a number of cases related to the Paraka Lawyers and the whole Finance Department network, isn't it? There's so much other stuff and there are other players as well who are also high level politicians, but they haven't necessarily been taken in yet, have they?
MD: They haven't been because we (the fraud squad) are practically suppressed. We can't do anything.
JB: Your unit has to have any cases vetted by Commissioner Baki or the (vetting) committee, right?
MD: Yes. It only made our work more difficult. And I am not sure whether a vetting committee, whether it exists. Because we've got a number of cases and we've never got any response.
JB: You mean that you give it (a case) to Commissioner Baki's office and it never goes any further?
MD: No, and that's where we are stuck. It's significantly restricted us. We can't do anything, we've just given up. If our boss is not supporting us, then who are we to try and do things on our own?
