Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (9 February 2019): PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Samoa

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UN-PRAC Newsletter – stories from June-December 2018.  Highlights include Anti-Corruption Excellence award for PNG Phones against Corruption, private sector engagement against infrastructure sector corruption, media training on corruption reporting, International Anti-Corruption Day, and integrity education curricula advocacy.

https://issuu.com/effective.governance17/docs/un-prac_newsletter_-_jan_2019

 

PNG:

Law students learn to fight corruption with TIPNG. Three law students from the University of Papua New Guinea have gained a broader understanding in addressing corruption through an internship programme with Transparency International PNG.

https://www.thenational.com.pg/law-students-learn-to-fight-corruption-with-tipng/

Transparency International report: PNG highly corrupt.  A new report by the global watchdog Transparency International has again classified Papua New Guinea as one of the most highly corrupt countries in the world.

http://www.mvariety.com/regional-news/110407-transparency-international-report-png-highly-corrupt

 

FIJI:

Kamlesh Arya trial starts April 15.  Arya is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption with one count of abuse of office and one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty.

https://fijisun.com.fj/2019/02/05/kamlesh-arya-trial-starts-april-15/

 

TONGA:

Lavulavu couple plead not guilty to fraud charges.  Former Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, a former Cabinet Minister, ‘Etuate Lavulavu today pleaded not guilty to fraud charges at the Supreme Court.

https://matangitonga.to/2019/02/04/lavulavu-couple-plead-not-guilty-fraud-charges

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Axiom plans legal action over Solomon Islands nickel licences. The share price of junior Axiom Mining stumbled on Wednesday as the company revealed it was considering legal action over the Kolosori tenement, in the Solomon Islands.

http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=6274330495c5b85cd140c14f05fc65

Manetoali denies diverting $100,000. Outgoing Member of Parliament for Gao/Bugotu, Samuel Manetoali denied diverting $100,000 of constituency fund for his own use.

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/21367-manetoali-denies-diverting-100-000

 

SAMOA:

Church files motion. The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) has filed a motion to quash the charges against 20 Church Ministers accused of alleged tax law violations.

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/06_02_2019/local/40878/Church-files-motion.htm

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

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

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

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