[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (3 July 2015) – Cook Islands, PNG, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa

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[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]

Cook Islands: Government official accused of abuses. A Cook Islands Government financial manager has been exposed in a report tabled in Parliament. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/277458/cooks-govt-official-accused-of-abuses

PNG: Government called on to act over corruption. The Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader says the government must act when it sees evidence of corruption. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/277580/png-govt-called-on-to-act-over-corruption

PNG: High Level Inquiry Into Firm. A Papua New Guinea lawyer has denied that he has been advising people on how to funnel corrupt money from PNG into Australia. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/June/06-29-06.htm

PNG: Kua has no confidence in PM's probe call. Papua New Guinea's former attorney-general says he has no confidence in a probe announced by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill into allegations of high-level money laundering. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/277496/kua-has-no-confidence-in-png-pm%27s-probe-call
 
PNG: Call for Australians involved in corruption to be investigated. Papua New Guinea's former attorney-general Kerenga Kua says the involvement of Australians in high-level money laundering in PNG needs to be investigated by Australian authorities. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/277523/call-for-australians-involved-in-png-corruption-to-be-investigated

Fiji: Education audit reveals abuse of grants. An audit carried out by the Ministry of Education revealed that 20 per cent of school managements abused grants given to them by the Government. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=311749

Fiji: DPP not to tolerate any interference. The Office of Director of Public Prosecution will not tolerate any interference by the government ministers in the justice system. http://fijione.tv/dpp-not-to-tolerate-any-interference/#sthash.7i6jsGok.dpuf

Nauru: Former Top Judge Says NZ Response Weak. Nauru's former Chief Justice says New Zealand is continuing to support an unjust system and should speak more strongly against what he calls an appalling abuse of power. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/June/06-29-10.htm

Samoa: President responds to allegations of corruption, lack of accountability. The President of the Samoa Farmers Association (S.F.A), Afamasaga Fa’amatala Tole’afoa (pictured right), has responded to allegations of corruption, lack of accountability and transparency in the running of the Association. http://www.samoaobserver.ws/other/agriculture/13828-president-responds-to-allegations-of-corruption-lack-of-accountability

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