Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (3 November 2018): Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands
FIJI:
FLP to consider reinstating PWD to be responsible for roads infrastructure and terminate role of FRA. The Fiji Labour Party manifesto also says that they will appoint an independent commission with powers to inquire into allegations of corruption and to prosecute offenders, both in private and political office.
Fiji Attends AIBA Congress. “This is a critical time in the history of amateur boxing, as it sees itself on the brink of expulsion from the Olympics as a political battle and governance issues threatens the sport exclusion from Tokyo 2020,” he said.
http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/11/02/fiji-attends-aiba-congress/
Senior FRCS staff fronts court on corruption charges; Court hears of alleged $4.1m loss caused. Shameem Khan, 48, charged with two separate counts of abuse of office and general dishonesty causing loss was granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court.
Fiji CJ to rule on FICAC appeal two days before election. Fiji's Chief Justice is to deliver a judgement on an appeal against political party leader Sitiveni Rabuka's acquittal of electoral fraud on Monday the 12th of November.
NFP Man In Court. A lawyer and National Federation Party candidate appeared in the Rakiraki Magistrates Court yesterday charged with one count of conversion and one count of money laundering.
http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/11/02/nfp-man-in-court/
3 Former Executives Of Big Supermarket Chain Charged For Money Laundering. Three former executives of a major supermarket chain have been charged for their alleged involvement in deceptively obtaining more than $200,000 between 2011 and 2016 whilst employed at the headquarters in Nasinu.
PNG:
Morauta seeks probe into PNG govt luxury car deal. A Papua New Guinea opposition MP has written to the Ombudsman Commission and Police Fraud Squad calling for inquiries into the APEC luxury cars scandal.
Thousands hold 'Maserati strike' in PNG amid anger at Apec summit spending. “It’s a protest against the corruption associated with the hosting of Apec. It’s not a protest against world leaders, it’s a protest against our own corrupt, unaccountable politicians,” he said.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/26/apec-summit-papua-new-guinea-maserati-thousands-strike
Study finds PNG 2017 election largely neither fair or free. Many voters were denied a fair choice in last year's Papua New Guinea general election, according to analysis by the Australian National University.
SOLOMON ISLANDS:
Solomons MP arrested and charged for corruption. A member of parliament in Solomon Islands has been arrested and charged with corruption.
COOK ISLANDS:
Cook Islands government ministries have a real problem when it comes to documentation supporting their figures in official financial statements. That’s the opinion of Audit Office head Allen Parker, who added poor internal controls and record keeping made auditing “very difficult”.
Ocean floor holds rich future. Lynch said cobalt was currently only available from the Democratic Republic of Congo “and it is called ‘conflict cobalt’ because of tribal warfare, corruption and social impacts; the comment was made as tenders for applications to explore Cook Islands seafloor are set to open in January.
http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/71099-ocean-floor-holds-rich-future