Thirty-five policemen and women graduated yesterday from the fourth Prosecutors Qualifying Program (PQP), a specialized training initiative aimed at equipping police prosecutors with necessary skills to enhance case management and improve conviction rates.
The ceremony, held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, saw 25 of them awarded diplomas and 10 received certificates.
Opening the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Police Special Operations Donald Yamasombi, discussed the importance of having the competence to prosecute cases.
He noted the need to bridge the gap between arrest and conviction rates.
“The police seem to be making a lot of arrests but the cases that go through for us to secure convictions is very minimal,” he stated.
“Why is it that we have many dismissals, struck out cases and withdrawals?"
Delivering the keynote address, Public Prosecutor Ms. Helen Roalakona emphasized that while the law provides the framework, it is the prosecutor’s character that defines its application.
She reminded graduates that they would face heavy caseloads and difficult decisions, noting that as public servants, they must remain resilient in the face of inevitable public criticism.
She said, “As a police prosecutor, you occupy a unique but essential position in our justice system…you stand at the intersection of law enforcement and the courts.”
“Remember that every case that you represent in court, represents real people.”
Ms. Roalakona concluded her address by thanking the instructors, the Police Commissioner, and his management for recognizing the vital need to upskill prosecutors across Papua New Guinea.
Also addressing the graduates was the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commander Jamie Strauss, who reiterated that quality evidence is the vital link between an initial arrest and an eventual conviction.
Commenting on the PQP, he said, “It’s a very important program; it’s the start of a cycle of support that we provide to the RPNGC.”
Looking at the collaboration between Australia and PNG, he highlighted the Prosecution Review Committee (PRC) as a strategic way to monitor the progress of cases handled by police investigators and prosecutors.
He further noted that personnel have been deployed to Mount Hagen, Lae, Kokopo, and the National Capital District (NCD) to ensure that performance expectations and professional standards are upheld.
Commander Strauss also presented the Dux award to Officer in Charge Senior Jacob Akaku, a Tari-based prosecutor whose career with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary spans more than 30 years.
