AN Inland Revenue Division (IRD) employee has been arrested yesterday by police on two counts of official corruption.

He is the fourth government official to be caught by the potent JANUS joint-operation between the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT), since its inception.

The arrest follows the execution of search warrants at the Honiara office of the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) and at the employee’s residential address on Tuesday March 28, 2017 by the RSIPF and Ministry of Finance & Treasury staff.

It is alleged that the IRD Officer had solicited discounts and payments and bribes in lieu of offering to unlawfully remit a company’s tax liabilities.

With this fourth arrest, Task Force Janus continues to investigate and prosecute those involved in corruption.

The matter will now be referred to the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecutions.

The Commissioner of Inland Revenue Mr Joseph Dokekana stated he was disappointed that the IRD officer had breached his position of trust and acted outside the values of the IRD.

However he was pleased that the company did not accede to the accused demands and that the unlawful behaviour was reported by them to his office to be investigated.

Mr Dokekana further stated that this was a good example of how the Private and the Public sector can work together to stamp out corrupt business practices and it sends a clear message to those involved in this type of behaviour.

The Commissioner of Police Matthew Varley stated he was pleased that the Task Force had made a further arrest and that the Task Force remained dedicated to its role of investigating corruption and abuse of office within the Public Sector.

As the matter is now before the Court, he could not comment on specifics of the prosecution but said that the joint Task Force between the Royal Solomon Islands Police and the Ministry of Finance & Treasury were methodically investigating a number of cases and that he expected further cases to be resolved in the future.

–POLICE MEDIA