Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (7 December 2019): PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands

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PNG:

PNG parliament committee probes corruption in health sector. A Papua New Guinea parliamentary committee has been uncovering extensive corruption in the country's public health sector.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/404817/png-parliament-committee-probes-corruption-in-health-sector

PNG electoral chief in custody after alleged bail breach. Papua New Guinea's Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato has been remanded in custody.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/404998/png-electoral-chief-in-custody-after-alleged-bail-breach  

Trainee law student join Transparency International. Three law students from the UNPNG Law School have now embarked on the Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) Legal Internship Program (LIP), as they seek to bolster the functions of the anti-corruption body.

https://postcourier.com.pg/trainee-law-students-join-transparency-international/

 

FIJI:

Former officer of Registrar of Titles makes court appearance for corruption related offence. A former officer of the Registrar of Titles and a law clerk appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today on corruption related offences

https://fijivillage.com/news/Former-officer-of-Registrar-of-Titles-makes-court-appearance-for-corruption-related-offence--9s52rk

 

TONGA:

Separate trials in passport offences. Tu'ivakano is charged with (14 counts total); two counts of money laundering, two of perjury, one of making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport, six counts of accepting a bribe as a government servant, two counts of possession of a firearm without a licence and one count of possession of ammunition without a licence.

https://matangitonga.to/2019/12/03/separate-trials-passport-offences

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

Anti-Corruption Day to be marked next week. The 2019 International Anti-Corruption Day will be marked in Honiara on 9 December

https://www.sibconline.com.sb/anti-corruption-day-to-be-marked-next-week/

Solomons PM Sogavare urged to sack nephew adviser and consider quitting over cash request. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Man¬asseh Sogavare is facing calls to sack his top political adviser and consider his own position after The Australian revealed his chief of staff demanded payments from an ASX-listed miner to smooth over its problems with the government.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/solomons-pm-sogavare-urged-to-sack-nephew-adviser-and-consider-quitting-over-cash-request/news-story/66166b92a0a3da2d7a4b3faf03b2ab14

 

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

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

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

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