The Integrity Commission (IC) has rejected the notion that its effectiveness should be judged solely by the number of convictions it secures, with Director of Investigation Kevon Stephenson arguing that preventing corruption and changing public behaviour are equally important measures of success.

His comments came during Tuesday’s press conference to discuss the Commission’s annual report. Responding to questions about the perception that corruption cases rarely result in convictions, Stephenson insisted that focusing exclusively on guilty verdicts ignores the broader role the anti-corruption watchdog plays in safeguarding public resources, strengthening governance and deterring wrongdoing before it occurs.

He argued that many of the Commission’s achievements never make it to the courtroom because they involve identifying weaknesses in government systems, preventing breaches of procurement rules and encouraging public bodies to correct deficiencies before they escalate into criminal offences.