All investigators within the Ombudsman’s Office were fortunate to attend a day awareness training conducted by United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) on Fraud and Financial Crimes.

Special Agents Brian Bertnik and Luke Winterer represented the NCIS Field Office in Singapore to conduct the awareness training.

Ombudsman Investigators during presentations.

Ombudsman, Hamlison Bulu expressed his gratification on the wiliness of the NCIS and the United States Embassy in Papua New Guinea for that assistance and continues to stress that further collaborations with both agencies in future is a must.

NCIS representatives have given their assurance to support the office of the Ombudsman in future as both agencies plan to expand from that training awareness to other areas.

NCIS is the primary law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of the Navy. Its primary function is to investigate criminal activities, corrupt dealings involving the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and its broad mandate includes national security, counterintelligence, counter-terrorism, cyber warfare, and the protection of U.S. naval assets worldwide.