Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (16 Sept 2016) – Solomon Islands, Nauru, PNG, Vanuatu, Tonga

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These updates are provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Anti-Corruption Project for Southeast Asia, and the joint UNODC - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, with support of the Australian Government.

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Solomon Islands:

"Time to Act Aggressively, Quickly on Corruption."  Remarks by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare delivered 8 September 2016,  at a workshop in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to develop a national anti-corruption strategy for the country.

https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2016/09/14/solomon-islands-prime-minister-manasseh-sogavare-time-to-act-agressively-quickly-on-corruption/

Nauru:

Money trail from Australian phosphate company Getax leads to Nauru minister David Adeang.  New documents have emerged detailing tens of thousands of dollars being paid by an Australian company to the family of Nauru's Justice Minister, David Adeang.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-14/australian-phosphate-company-getax-payments-to-nauru-minister/7838170

PNG:

MP charged with theft.  Chuave MP Wera Mori has appeared in the Waigani court charged with official corruption.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/mp-charged-theft/

Former PNG government minister arrested on corruption charges.  Police in Papua New Guinea's capital have arrested a former MP and government minister Gabriel Kapris on various corruption charges.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/313340/former-png-govt-minister-arrested-on-corruption-charges

Vanuatu:

Former employees plead not guilty.  Three former Northern Islands Stevedoring Company Limited (NISCOL) employees have pleaded not guilty to charges of misappropriation, theft and money laundering.

http://dailypost.vu/news/former-employees-plead-not-guilty/article_5f83913d-d92f-52b8-8e30-c9812972e555.html

Tonga:

Four plead guilty in passport forgery trial.  Four Tongan nationals, including two former civil servants will be sentenced on 11 November after changing their plea to guilty to charges in a Tongan passport forgery trial.

http://matangitonga.to/2016/09/14/four-plead-guilty-tongan-passport-forgery-trial

For more information about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project, please get in touch with:

Maria Adomeit, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, maria.adomeit@unodc.org

Mihaela Stojkoska, Anti-Corruption Specialist - Pacific, UNDP, mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org

Luisa Senibulu, Governance Programme Associate, UNDP/UNODC, luisa.senibulu@undp.org

Samita Singh, Programme Assistant - Anti-Corruption, UNDP/UNODC, samita.singh@undp.org

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