Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (11 August 2017): Fiji, PNG, 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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FIJI:
"No cover ups and it is a transparent process."  Those are the words of Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho as he spoke about some Police officers breaking the law.
http://fijivillage.com/news/No-cover-ups-and-it-is-a-transparent-process---Police-Commissioner-k52sr9/
12 Police officers charged.  TwelvePolice officers are among 86 people who were charged by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in July this year alone.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=411978
Joint Statement by the Fiji Police Force and the Embassy of the People's Republic Of China.  "A joint operation between Fijian and Chinese law enforcement agencies under an existing Memorandum of Understanding of police cooperation has resulted in the removal of 77 Chinese nationals who were found to be in breach of their visa conditions."
http://fijisun.com.fj/2017/08/08/a-joint-statement-by-the-fiji-police-force-and-the-embassy-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china/
Forgery trial continues.  Two prosecution witnesses gave their testimonies in the trial of businessman, Benjamin Padarath and lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma in the Suva Magistrates Court.
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/53282/forgery-trial-continues-
Chinese police grab 77 suspected fraudsters from Fiji.  The Chinese Ministry of Public Security announced that the suspects had been flown from Fiji to China.
https://www.newswire.com.fj/world/china/chinese-police-grab-77-suspected-fraudsters-from-fiji/
PNG: 
Pressure on PM to clear his name over fraud case.  Papua New Guinea's prime minister is being urged to take the opportunity to clear his name regarding an alleged fraud case.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/336813/pressure-on-png-pm-to-clear-his-name-over-fraud-case
National Court rejects attempt to stop arrest of PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.  Papua New Guinea's National Court has ruled that police can arrest the country's Prime Minister on a charge of official corruption.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-09/court-rejects-attempt-to-stop-arrest-of-png-pm-peter-oneill/8787156
Transparency PNG warns against too much close cooperation with Chinese police.  A statement by Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner congratulating Fiji and China on the removal of 77 Chinese citizens from Fiji was criticised by an anti-corruption NGO.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/pacific-beat/2017-08-09/transparency-png-warns-against-too-much-close/8790840
TONGA:
Tongan government accused of collecting tax illegally.  The government of Tonga has come under fire in parliament for what some MPs say is the illegal collection of revenue from a levy and a tax that were brought in to raise funds for the 2019 Pacific Games.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/pacific-beat/2017-08-09/tongan-government-accused-of-collecting-tax/8788514
Court rules in favour of State Law Office staff.  The Supreme Court has quashed the direction of the Prime Minister that instructed the Director General of Finance to hold back a sum of Vt45,748,200 that was published by The Government Remuneration Tribunal, for the staff of the State Law Office.
http://dailypost.vu/news/court-rules-in-favour-of-state-law-office-staff/article_dc00bf2d-a8fe-53d9-a0c4-435d300148c4.html
To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:
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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