THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1976
AMENDMENTS TO
ICAC ORDINANCE ******
A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS ARE TO BE MADE TO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVE INDEPENDENT OPERATION OF THE COMMISSION. THESE AMENDMENTS ALSO INCLUDE MEASURES DESIGNED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC AGAINST PERSONS KNOWINGLY MAKING FALSE REPORTS TO THE ICAC OR FALSELY PRETENDING TO BE, OR HAVE THE POWER OF, AN ICAC OFFICER.
IN ADDITION, PROVISIONS IN THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO PREVENT CORRUPT OFFICERS FROM MAKING OFF WITH THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAINS ARE TO BE MADE MORE EFFECTIVE.
THE CHANGES ARE CONTAINED IN THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW. THE BILLS ARE EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 11.
COMMENTING ON THE AMENDMENTS. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT. IN THE MAIN, THE NEW POWERS FOR THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ARE POWERS WHICH POLICE OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY WITH WHICH THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION WAS SET UP IN 1973, THE LEGISLATIVE PROVISION FOR IT WAS CONFINED TO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT IT COULD FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY.
+HAD TIME BEEN NOT SO PRESSING, MOST OF THE AMENDMENTS NOW BEING PROPOSED WOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION ORDINANCE.+
AS IT IS. ALL THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVED NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE OF THE WORKING OF THE ORDINANCE AND OF DEVELOPMENTS, SINCE THE LATTER PART OF 1974.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL WILL GIVE THE COMMISSION'S OFFICERS POWER TO ARREST A PERSON FOR ANY OFFENCE WHICH MAY COME TO LIGHT DURING INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGED CORRUPTION NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE OFFENCE IS NOT UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE OR THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE. ICAC OFFICERS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN POWER TO ENTER PREMISES IN SEARCH OF A SUSPECT WHO IS TO BE ARRESTED,
REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF POWERS OF ARREST, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS TO COVER TWO MAIN CLASSES OF CASES.
ONE OF THESE IS WHERE THE COMMISSION'S INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED CORRUPTION UNAVOIDABLY INVOLVES ENQUIRIES INTO OTHER OFFENCES AND IT IS NOT PRACTICABLE FOR THE COMMISSION TO DISENGAGE ITSELF FROM THE INQUIRY AND HAND IT OVER TO THE POLICE FORCE.
THE OTHER
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