AIFFP, ADB, PNG Ports and corruption
The recent two-part ABC Background Briefing series “Dead Man’s Secrets” makes for compelling listening. It is the story of two men, Fego Kiniafa, former PNG Ports CEO, and Don Matheson, Australian businessman and
Corruption
Inadequate evidence to revoke Gupta’s brothers’ Vanuatu Citizenship: Commission
Vanuatu’s Citizenship Commission has confirmed that corruption-accused fugitive Gupta brothers – Atul and Rajesh — are citizens of Vanuatu and there is inadequate evidence to cancel their Vanuatu citizenship
Suidani ousted from post ‘after turning down Chinese bribes’
Daniel Suidani, an outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands’ closer ties with China, was ousted as premier of Malaita in early February after refusing “huge” bribes from Chinese businesses who threatened to have
PNG climate change officials accused of skimming US$1.3 million in public funds
Senior staff at the government body responsible for carrying out Papua New Guinea’s climate change response are facing major criminal proceedings after the alleged misappropriation of more than $2 million (US$1.3
PNG Police take video of meth session
Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning has confirmed that a video circulating on social media, showing officers allegedly smoking methamphetamine is being investigated by the National Drug and Vice Squad.
Sacked health chief hits ‘blatant corruption’ in Marshall Islands
Jack Niedenthal, who was recently “fired” as health secretary of the Marshall Islands, blasted the national government for turning a blind eye to the “blatant corruption” involving “greedy
PNG sitting on time bomb regarding synthetic drugs
Papua New Guinea is sitting on a ticking bomb regarding the selling and consumption of synthetic drugs, says a senior policeman in charge of the fight against drugs. Donald Yamasombi, head of the illicit and narcotics
Six PNG police officers charged with distributing meth
In a major crackdown on distribution of methamphetamine in Papua New Guinea, six police officers from National Capital District (NCD) and Central are now facing court over their alleged involvement in the distribution,
South Africa’s wanted fugitives Guptas are now citizens of Vanuatu
South Africa’s Director-General of the justice department advocate Dr Mashabane said on Friday they only just learnt that the Guptas are citizens of Vanuatu in the Pacific islands. “In the communication we
Most meth labs foreign owned and run by Papua New Guineans
Intelligence reports detail Papua New Guinea allegedly has more than 15 methamphetamine (meth) manufacturing laboratories. About seven of them are operating in nation’s capital with clandestine laboratories, three in
PNG drugs suspects remanded
A Lae district court in Papua New Guinea has rejected bail for an expatriate and six Papua New Guineans implicated in the K35 million (US$9.9 million) methamphetamine bust in Lae last Tuesday. All seven, appearing from
Fraudulent cases against PNG MPs gathering dust
Three men sat there, few computers, a single printer sitting idle at the entrance, no telephones, papers piled up, and folders everywhere one would guess none have been reopened or attempted to be read fraudulent case
Marape orders corruption watchdog to investigate PNG Ports
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape says the country’s corruption watchdog will investigate the state-owned PNG Ports Corporation in response to revelations by the ABC. Last week the ABC’s
K100,000 paid for trio’s release: Tsiamalili MP
A ransom of K100,000 (US$28,000) was paid to armed bandits to secure the release of Australian-based Professor Bryce Barker and two local female researchers on Sunday, says Papua New Guinea Internal Security Minister
PNG Police to ensure safe release of hostages
Papua New Guinea security personnel are authorised to use the full force of the law to secure the people being held in Bosavi, Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands Province, by an armed criminal gang since Sunday, February
PNG a ‘highly corrupt country’, report shows
Papua New Guinea has maintained its place as a highly corrupt country on the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Report, this time dropping one point down to a low 30 out of 180 countries. Apart from this one-point drop, PNG
Two FSM nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering
The Federated States of Micronesia’s Supreme Court has found two of its nationals guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conflict of interest, in a case involving an unlawful international shipping
Nauru’s Dame caught in alleged corruption in Bangkok
The Bangkok home of a former Nauru diplomat, Onassis Dame has been raised by Thai police in connection with an alleged scheme to forge Chinese and Nauru passports. According to media reports, the residence was used as a
An update on the “good governance coup”: political will and corruption in Fiji
In 2006 Fiji’s current prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, seized power from a government that had been elected only seven months earlier. Named the “good governance coup”, the takeover was justified by concerns
Opinion: Bribe or gift … which one is it?
Much has been written and even more has been talked about on the “coconut wireless” in recent years about attempted bribes and other forms of corruption throughout these islands. Money and all-expenses-paid trips to
Australian pilot sentenced to 18 years in PNG
An Australian pilot linked to the biggest drug bust in Papua New Guinea has been convicted and jailed for 18 years. The Waigani National Court on Friday sentenced David John Cutmore, 57, of Williams Landing, Queensland,
PACIFICi Portal to assist investigative anti-corruption efforts
With the Pacific Island region increasingly impacted by organised transnational crime, international drug and people smuggling, money laundering and corruption, a new web-based investigative tool, PACIFICi, is set to
Pacific Islands increasingly used as crime transit point, experts say
The Pacific islands are increasingly being used as a transit point for transnational crime, including drug trafficking and money laundering, experts say. Criminal organisations from Asia and the Americas are exploiting
