Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (9 June 2017): Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa

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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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KIRIBATI:
Kiribati holds Taiwanese purse seiner crew until fine paid.  A Taiwanese purse seiner has been fined $US4 million dollars for illegal fishing in Kiribati's Phoenix Islands Protected Area.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/332417/kiribati-holds-taiwanese-purse-seiner-crew-until-fine-paid

VANUATU:
Court dismisses Constitutional application by former MPs.  Vanuatu Supreme Court Judge JP Geoghegan has dismissed the Constitutional applications filed by 11 former Members of Parliament and one lawyer following the appeal by the Public Prosecutor for retrial.
http://dailypost.vu/news/court-dismisses-constitutional-application-by-former-mps/article_82cf791c-26f0-5025-bd6b-c319d4447695.html

SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Prosecution yet to provide disclosures.  Full disclosures are yet to be made to the five people charged in connection to the $10 million scandal within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/12989-prosecution-yet-to-provide-disclosures

FIJI:
Roads authority files affidavit to withdraw from corruption commission case.  The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has filed an affidavit to withdraw from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and Feroz Jan Mohammed’s case as one of the interested parties.
http://fijivillage.com/news/FRA-files-an-affidavit-to-withdraw-from-FICAC-and-Feroz-Jan-Mohammeds-case-k5r2s9/
Stop work order issued on the extraction of river gravel in Naitasiri.  The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources has issued a stop work order on the extraction of river gravel undertaken by contractors Zhao-rufu and Suliasi Dolesau in Waibau, Naitasiri.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Stop-work-order-issued-on-the-extraction-of-river-gravel-in-Naitasiri-9rk5s2/
Chairman of the Council of Rotuma charged with corruption related offences.  The Chairman of the Council of Rotuma,Tarterani Rigamoto, and two other people appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on corruption-related offences.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Chairman-of-the-Council-of-Rotuma-charged-with-corruption-related-offences--5sr29k/
Museum director's hearing date for continuation of corruption trial to be set this month.  Former Fiji Museum Director Timaima Buadromo’s hearing date for continuation of trial will be fixed on 24 June.
http://fijivillage.com/news/Buadromos-hearing-date-for-continuation-of-trial-to-be-set-this-month-25s9kr/

SAMOA:
Minister takes colleague to court.  A Samoa cabinet minister who was last year cleared of fraud and forgery allegations is now suing the minister who made the allegations against him.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/332529/samoa-minister-takes-colleague-to-court

For more information about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact:
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

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

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