Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates - PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Cook Islands (23 July 2014)

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[Facilitator's note: With thanks to Tony Prescott, Annika Wythes, Isikeli Valemei, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, for sharing these updates.]

PNG: Police boss ordered back to court. The National Court in Papua New Guinea has ordered the new Police Commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, to appear in court for contempt of court charges. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250317/png-police-boss-ordered-back-to-court

Fiji: Former Principal Accountant gets three-month jail term. A former Principal Accountant at the Ministry of Industry and Trade received a three-month jail sentence by the Suva Magistrates Court. http://www.ficac.org.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1025&catid=20&Itemid=611

Fiji: Financial Intelligence Unit records 522 suspicious transaction reports in 2013. The total annual value of suspicious transactions that were reported to the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) last year increased to $29.4 million from $20 million in 2012. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=274945

Electoral process casting doubt on Fiji elections. The Fiji Labour Party says no one can have any confidence in the National Register of Voters because the government has decided not to make it public. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250169/electoral-process-casting-doubt-on-fiji-elections

'Forged documents' raises FRCA concern.The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) is concerned that some taxpayers and importers are forging tax documents issued by FRCA for personal benefits. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=275115

Solomon Islands: Government releases budget outcome. Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance has released its first report of the 2013 Final Budget Outcome. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=274953

Solomon Islands: TSI in Taro, Choiseul. Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) successfully conducted a series of workshop in Taro, Choiseul province this week with public officials, community leaders, churches, women’s groups and youths. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2995-tsi-in-taro-choiseul

Solomon Islands: Duo found guilty of stealing public funds. The forgery case involving the cashing of a government cheque of more than $50,000 is back in court and almost in its finally stage of sentencing. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/2551-duo-found-guilty-of-stealing-public-funds

Samoa: Land C.E.O. stays silent. “We are implementing the developments, reaping the fruits and we are also paying for it at the same time. What’s so difficult about that?” – P.M. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. http://www.samoaobserver.ws/other/government/10848-land-ceo-stays-silent-

Cooks Islands: Election outcome challenged. The Cook Islands Democratic Party says the election count was inaccurate and it will challenge the result. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/250224/cooks-election-outcome-challenged

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