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Showing posts from November, 2011

The Somare family and the K96m Woodlawn scam

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The PNG government alleges K96m has been stolen from the public purse in a fraudulent share transfer overseen by former Public Enterprise Minister, Arthur Somare. But what has not yet been revealed is the money has been invested in a company that bears the same name as the school attended by Arthur’s brother, Sana. Further, Lismore, where the money is sitting in a Commonwealth Bank branch, is described by friends as “home turf for the Somare family”. It is also alleged the family has close personal ties to the bank staff at the branch at 86 Woodlark Street Lismore, which is just around the corner from the registered office of the investment company. New Minister, Mekere Morauta, says the stolen K96m, or what now remains of it, is in a  bank account owned by an obscure Australian company, Woodlawn Capital Ltd. Sana Somare was schooled at the exclusive St Johns College at Woodlawn near Lismore in northern New South Wales. St John’s is commonly referred to as Woodlawn college

The Somare family and the K96m Woodlawn scam

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The PNG government alleges K96m has been stolen from the public purse in a fraudulent share transfer overseen by former Public Enterprise Minister, Arthur Somare. But what has not yet been revealed is the money has been invested in a company that bears the same name as the school attended by Arthur’s brother, Sana. Further, Lismore, where the money is sitting in a Commonwealth Bank branch, is described by friends as “home turf for the Somare family”. It is also alleged the family has close personal ties to the bank staff at the branch at 86 Woodlark Street Lismore, which is just around the corner from the registered office of the investment company. New Minister, Mekere Morauta, says the stolen K96m, or what now remains of it, is in a  bank account owned by an obscure Australian company, Woodlawn Capital Ltd. Sana Somare was schooled at the exclusive St Johns College at Woodlawn near Lismore in northern New South Wales. St John’s is commonly referred to as Woodlawn coll

House losing credibility

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THROUGHOUT the country people had their full attention on the last meeting of parliament which began yesterday for a variety of reasons. Eyes and ears were glued to television and radio sets while those lucky enough to be allowed through the gates of parliament in Port Moresby jostled for the limited space in the chamber. One half of the population – numbering a little more than three million people – had a bill before parliament to reserve 22 seats in the next parliament exclusively for women. Those politically aware knew this is the crucial meeting of parliament when this bill has to be passed or it might never be. Women came in busloads in the hope that the reserved seats bill would be read. They defied security orders about footwear and stampeded into the grand entrance in tongs, daring guards to remove them. Jiwaka people, numbering nearly 200,000, and some 350,000 Hela people are waiting with bated breath for Minister Assisting Prime Minister on Constitutional Matters and J

House losing credibility

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THROUGHOUT the country people had their full attention on the last meeting of parliament which began yesterday for a variety of reasons. Eyes and ears were glued to television and radio sets while those lucky enough to be allowed through the gates of parliament in Port Moresby jostled for the limited space in the chamber. One half of the population – numbering a little more than three million people – had a bill before parliament to reserve 22 seats in the next parliament exclusively for women. Those politically aware knew this is the crucial meeting of parliament when this bill has to be passed or it might never be. Women came in busloads in the hope that the reserved seats bill would be read. They defied security orders about footwear and stampeded into the grand entrance in tongs, daring guards to remove them. Jiwaka people, numbering nearly 200,000, and some 350,000 Hela people are waiting with bated breath for Minister Assisting Prime Minister on Constitutional Mat

Missing K96m found in NSW bank

Almost K100 million owned by a state-owned enterprise has been siphoned off to a bank account in the Australian state of New South Wales and a police investigation is underway to recover the money. Former public enterprises minister Arthur Somare and former Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd (MVIL) manager director Dr John Mua are implicated. The money – about K96 million – was the proceeds of the sale of 530,105,100 shares in Bank South Pacific which were owned by MVIL. Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta announced details yesterday, saying he had ordered the recovery of the money. “The sale, to an Australian company called Nominees Niugini Ltd, is now the subject of a police investigation.” He said MVIL sold the shares when under the control of his predecessor Arthur Somare and the former Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) management. According to Sir Mekere, proper processes had not been followed, and the sale was in breach of Section 45B of the IPBC Act and Section

Missing K96m found in NSW bank

Almost K100 million owned by a state-owned enterprise has been siphoned off to a bank account in the Australian state of New South Wales and a police investigation is underway to recover the money. Former public enterprises minister Arthur Somare and former Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd (MVIL) manager director Dr John Mua are implicated. The money – about K96 million – was the proceeds of the sale of 530,105,100 shares in Bank South Pacific which were owned by MVIL. Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta announced details yesterday, saying he had ordered the recovery of the money. “The sale, to an Australian company called Nominees Niugini Ltd, is now the subject of a police investigation.” He said MVIL sold the shares when under the control of his predecessor Arthur Somare and the former Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) management. According to Sir Mekere, proper processes had not been followed, and the sale was in breach of Section 45B of the IPBC Act

WOMENS BILL PASSES HOUSE

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WOMEN danced, wept and embraced outside the Papua New Guinea Parliament yesterday as years of campaigning culminated in a watershed vote to allow 22 reserved seats for women in the almost exclusively male chamber, where just one of 109 seats is presently held by a female. With time running out before the 2012 general election, expectation and anxiety were high among supporters of the bill, with women loudly admonishing MPs from the packed public gallery when the debate was delayed on Monday. But encouraged by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, the constitutional amendment to allow the women's seats, one for each province, was eventually passed by 72 votes to two, with several members abstaining and some absent. ''Only with the input of women will PNG go on and thrive to become a great nation,'' said Mr O'Neill. The president of the National Council of Women, Schola Kakas, described the move as ''a cry of the mothers of this nation''. She added: &#

WOMENS BILL PASSES HOUSE

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WOMEN danced, wept and embraced outside the Papua New Guinea Parliament yesterday as years of campaigning culminated in a watershed vote to allow 22 reserved seats for women in the almost exclusively male chamber, where just one of 109 seats is presently held by a female. With time running out before the 2012 general election, expectation and anxiety were high among supporters of the bill, with women loudly admonishing MPs from the packed public gallery when the debate was delayed on Monday. But encouraged by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, the constitutional amendment to allow the women's seats, one for each province, was eventually passed by 72 votes to two, with several members abstaining and some absent. ''Only with the input of women will PNG go on and thrive to become a great nation,'' said Mr O'Neill. The president of the National Council of Women, Schola Kakas, described the move as ''a cry of the mothers of this nation''. She

HOUSE IN CHAOS AS TIENSTEN IS DISMISSED AS MP

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DISMISSED! Former National Planning Minister and Member for Pomio, Paul Tiensten was unceremoniously dumped as a Member of Parliament, shortly after the House resumed this afternoon. Speaker Jeffery Nape, declared the seat vacant, citing Tiensten had missed three consecutive sessions of Parliament. ... Tiensten is the second Member of Parliament to have been dumped by Speaker Nape, the first being veteran politician and father of the nation, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. The Speaker had invoked Section 104, 2b of the Constitution in both situations. After declaring the Pomio Open seat vacant, Speaker Nape, temporarily adjourned the House, and ordered the Sergeant-At-Arms to remove Mr. Tiensten from the Floor. However, the Sergeant-At-Arms did not remove Mr. Tiensten, and the Member refused to leave. Some 10 minutes later Mr. Tiensten left, voluntarily. When the House resumed, former Attorney General, Sir Arnold Amet, called for a point of order to explain that a Supreme Court referen

HOUSE IN CHAOS AS TIENSTEN IS DISMISSED AS MP

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DISMISSED! Former National Planning Minister and Member for Pomio, Paul Tiensten was unceremoniously dumped as a Member of Parliament, shortly after the House resumed this afternoon. Speaker Jeffery Nape, declared the seat vacant, citing Tiensten had missed three consecutive sessions of Parliament. ... Tiensten is the second Member of Parliament to have been dumped by Speaker Nape, the first being veteran politician and father of the nation, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. The Speaker had invoked Section 104, 2b of the Constitution in both situations. After declaring the Pomio Open seat vacant, Speaker Nape, temporarily adjourned the House, and ordered the Sergeant-At-Arms to remove Mr. Tiensten from the Floor. However, the Sergeant-At-Arms did not remove Mr. Tiensten, and the Member refused to leave. Some 10 minutes later Mr. Tiensten left, voluntarily. When the House resumed, former Attorney General, Sir Arnold Amet, called for a point of order to explain that a Suprem

Arrest house speaker: PNG opposition

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Papua New Guinea's opposition will move to have speaker of the house Jeffery Nape arrested and charged with contempt of court after he tried to declare a former minister's seat vacant and have him evicted from the House. Former Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet says he will file an application at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to have Mr Nape arrested after he evicted former planning minister Paul Tiensten for missing three consecutive parliamentary sittings in August and September. Mr Tiensten was in Brisbane at the time, having fled after anti-corruption investigators tried to question him about 10 million kina that went missing from his department over three years during his tenure as planning minister. Sir Arnold says Mr Nape is in contempt of court because his powers to suspend ministers are currently under the Supreme Court's microscope because he tried to dump former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare from his seat, using the same three sitting rule, on September 6.&qu

Arrest house speaker: PNG opposition

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Papua New Guinea's opposition will move to have speaker of the house Jeffery Nape arrested and charged with contempt of court after he tried to declare a former minister's seat vacant and have him evicted from the House. Former Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet says he will file an application at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to have Mr Nape arrested after he evicted former planning minister Paul Tiensten for missing three consecutive parliamentary sittings in August and September. Mr Tiensten was in Brisbane at the time, having fled after anti-corruption investigators tried to question him about 10 million kina that went missing from his department over three years during his tenure as planning minister. Sir Arnold says Mr Nape is in contempt of court because his powers to suspend ministers are currently under the Supreme Court's microscope because he tried to dump former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare from his seat, using the same three sitting rule, on September 6

Government’s failed plan of the Chief Justice is part of a grand plan

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The O’Neil Cabinet’s collective decision to suspend the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia is part of the Government’s grand design to test Papua New Guinea’s judicial system. It was done deliberately knowing O’Neil, his deputy Namah or cabinet ministers would be charged for one reason or another by drawing the ire of the judicial system and even the entire nation. If the decision from a full bench of 5 national court judges on December 9th is not in their favour, they will appeal the judgment based on the grounds of impartiality of the 5 judges given their dealing with the East Sepik Provincial Government Court Reference and the current impasse. That appeal will buy the O’Neil Government enough time for the courts to go into recess till February of 2012 shortly after which time writs for the next general elections would be issued rendering the case against the legitimacy of the O’Neil Government under the carpet. Bart Philemon once said the Somare Government was “wheeling and dealing by h

Government’s failed plan of the Chief Justice is part of a grand plan

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The O’Neil Cabinet’s collective decision to suspend the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia is part of the Government’s grand design to test Papua New Guinea’s judicial system. It was done deliberately knowing O’Neil, his deputy Namah or cabinet ministers would be charged for one reason or another by drawing the ire of the judicial system and even the entire nation. If the decision from a full bench of 5 national court judges on December 9th is not in their favour, they will appeal the judgment based on the grounds of impartiality of the 5 judges given their dealing with the East Sepik Provincial Government Court Reference and the current impasse. That appeal will buy the O’Neil Government enough time for the courts to go into recess till February of 2012 shortly after which time writs for the next general elections would be issued rendering the case against the legitimacy of the O’Neil Government under the carpet. Bart Philemon once said the Somare Government was “wheeling and dealin

Integrity of judiciary vital

LAST week, the attention of Papua New Guinea riveted on the National Executive Council when it decided to suspend the chief justice. Many, including this newspaper, cried foul and saw the decision for what it was – a serious incursion into the independence of the third arm of government –the judiciary. That decision was stayed by Justice Bernard Sakora last Friday sitting as a one-man Supreme Court and the NEC on Monday rescinded it. This week, the attention is focused on the courts. How will it punish those who have incurred its contempt? How will it deal with the special Supreme Court reference before it? And, especially, whether the chief justice will allow himself to continue to chair the bench when it brings down its decision on Dec 9. The reference was filed on Aug 5. All matters relevant to the case were dealt with and arguments were presented by counsel for the various parties by Oct 28 when the Supreme Court adjourned to Dec 9 for the crucial decision to be handed down. Since

Integrity of judiciary vital

LAST week, the attention of Papua New Guinea riveted on the National Executive Council when it decided to suspend the chief justice. Many, including this newspaper, cried foul and saw the decision for what it was – a serious incursion into the independence of the third arm of government –the judiciary. That decision was stayed by Justice Bernard Sakora last Friday sitting as a one-man Supreme Court and the NEC on Monday rescinded it. This week, the attention is focused on the courts. How will it punish those who have incurred its contempt? How will it deal with the special Supreme Court reference before it? And, especially, whether the chief justice will allow himself to continue to chair the bench when it brings down its decision on Dec 9. The reference was filed on Aug 5. All matters relevant to the case were dealt with and arguments were presented by counsel for the various parties by Oct 28 when the Supreme Court adjourned to Dec 9 for the crucial decision to be handed down.

PNG LOSES AT POLLS

ELECTION years seem to have a profound effect on enticing some of our brightest and best professionals from the public service. These men, many of them seasoned veterans and quite a few on the cusp of attaining top management and administrative roles in their careers, choose to enter the electoral fray with idealistic intentions. One can say with a certain degree of regret that while there have been some success stories from these five-yearly exercises in democracy, the truth is that elections have served to ravage the cream of the civil service more than it has produced triumphs. In many cases, this is to the detriment of the department or body which the individual has opted to leave. It deprives the public service of talented and highly skilled individuals and leaders and furthermore leaves a void that often takes years and hundreds of thousands of kina to fill. The investment in terms of training and development of these individuals seems to be for naught as once the decision is mad

Constitutional crisis erupts in Papua New Guinea

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An unresolved constitutional crisis in Papua New Guinea (PNG)—the South Pacific’s most populous and resource-rich country—highlights the political instability generated throughout the region by intensifying great power rivalries, particularly between the United States and China. Following extraordinary events over the past two weeks, including the arrest of the deputy prime minister and attorney-general, the PNG Supreme Court is due to rule on December 9 on the constitutional legitimacy of the government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. O’Neill took office on August 2 when the parliament voted by 70 to 24 to declare that the prime ministership had been vacated by long-time leader Sir Michael Somare, who had been critically ill in a Singapore hospital for four months Somare was also stripped of his parliamentary seat, on the pretext that he had missed three sittings of parliament. O’Neill, the son of a former Australian magistrate in PNG, is more closely aligned to Australia, the countr

Constitutional crisis erupts in Papua New Guinea

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An unresolved constitutional crisis in Papua New Guinea (PNG)—the South Pacific’s most populous and resource-rich country—highlights the political instability generated throughout the region by intensifying great power rivalries, particularly between the United States and China. Following extraordinary events over the past two weeks, including the arrest of the deputy prime minister and attorney-general, the PNG Supreme Court is due to rule on December 9 on the constitutional legitimacy of the government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. O’Neill took office on August 2 when the parliament voted by 70 to 24 to declare that the prime ministership had been vacated by long-time leader Sir Michael Somare, who had been critically ill in a Singapore hospital for four months Somare was also stripped of his parliamentary seat, on the pretext that he had missed three sittings of parliament. O’Neill, the son of a former Australian magistrate in PNG, is more closely aligned to Australia, the

Minerals debate hots up in Papua New Guinea

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A proposal to turn ownership of mineral rights over to landowners in Papua New Guinea would split national unity and devastate the south Pacific country’s economically vital mining sector, Papua New Guinea’s Chamber of Mines and Petroleum said yesterday. Supporters of the move led by former prime minister Julius Chan believe it would better distribute royalties from the billions of dollars reaped each year from mining and oil directly to local communities instead of relying on the central government. But Chamber of Mines and Petroleum executive director Greg Anderson said this would lead to chaos and could deter foreign investment in the nation’s single-largest revenue earner. The proposal, first tabled by Mines Minister Byron Chan, the son of Julius Chan, is a key plank ahead of national elections next June in Papua New Guinea, which is often described as an island of gold, floating in a sea of oil surrounded by gas. “The proposal is getting a high profile because we’re coming up to t

Minerals debate hots up in Papua New Guinea

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A proposal to turn ownership of mineral rights over to landowners in Papua New Guinea would split national unity and devastate the south Pacific country’s economically vital mining sector, Papua New Guinea’s Chamber of Mines and Petroleum said yesterday. Supporters of the move led by former prime minister Julius Chan believe it would better distribute royalties from the billions of dollars reaped each year from mining and oil directly to local communities instead of relying on the central government. But Chamber of Mines and Petroleum executive director Greg Anderson said this would lead to chaos and could deter foreign investment in the nation’s single-largest revenue earner. The proposal, first tabled by Mines Minister Byron Chan, the son of Julius Chan, is a key plank ahead of national elections next June in Papua New Guinea, which is often described as an island of gold, floating in a sea of oil surrounded by gas. “The proposal is getting a high profile because we’re coming

CJ will still face probe

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has backed his government's decision to revoke a suspension on the nation's chief justice. But the prime minister is pledging an investigation will continue as he returns from APEC to the aftermath of an historic political-judicial battle. On Tuesday, as the Supreme Court officially released Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat on bail pending a December 12 hearing for contempt, Mr O'Neill said he supported cabinet's decision to suspend and then rescind the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. However, Mr O'Neill says an investigation into Sir Salamo's alleged financial misconduct will be handed over to government agencies. "Many of those issues are very serious in nature and they will be referred back into the bureaucracy and the appropriate agencies of government to carry out the responsible investigation and the task of revealing the case itself," he said. &

CJ will still face probe

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has backed his government's decision to revoke a suspension on the nation's chief justice. But the prime minister is pledging an investigation will continue as he returns from APEC to the aftermath of an historic political-judicial battle. On Tuesday, as the Supreme Court officially released Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat on bail pending a December 12 hearing for contempt, Mr O'Neill said he supported cabinet's decision to suspend and then rescind the suspension of Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. However, Mr O'Neill says an investigation into Sir Salamo's alleged financial misconduct will be handed over to government agencies. "Many of those issues are very serious in nature and they will be referred back into the bureaucracy and the appropriate agencies of government to carry out the responsible investigation and the task of revealing the case itself," he

PNG fraud scandal suspect gets three years’ 10 months

Wu Shih-tsai (吳思材) was given a final sentence of three years and 10 months in prison yesterday by the Taiwan High Court, for his role in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) diplomatic fraud scandal The ruling said Wu and Ching Chi-ju (金紀玖), the other prime suspect in the case, were commissioned in August 2006 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former National Security Council -secretary-general Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) to act as intermediaries in an attempt to establish diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea. The ministry later agreed to wire US$29.8 million to a bank account opened by Wu and -Ching at an OCBC Bank branch in Singapore. The funds were to be transferred to the Papua New Guinea government once the two nations had signed a diplomatic communique. The ruling said that following the failure of the attempt to establish diplomatic relations in December 2006, the ministry asked for the money back. However, -Ching allegedly refused to return the funds and has since disappeared. After ret

PNG fraud scandal suspect gets three years’ 10 months

Wu Shih-tsai (吳思材) was given a final sentence of three years and 10 months in prison yesterday by the Taiwan High Court, for his role in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) diplomatic fraud scandal The ruling said Wu and Ching Chi-ju (金紀玖), the other prime suspect in the case, were commissioned in August 2006 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former National Security Council -secretary-general Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) to act as intermediaries in an attempt to establish diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea. The ministry later agreed to wire US$29.8 million to a bank account opened by Wu and -Ching at an OCBC Bank branch in Singapore. The funds were to be transferred to the Papua New Guinea government once the two nations had signed a diplomatic communique. The ruling said that following the failure of the attempt to establish diplomatic relations in December 2006, the ministry asked for the money back. However, -Ching allegedly refused to return the funds and has since disappeared. A

Tiensten arrested on return, out on K5000 bail.

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Busted! Papua New Guinea's former planning minister, who fled to Australia to avoid a corruption investigation, has been arrested on his return to the country. Paul Tiensten was arrested by police and members of Taskforce Sweep as he left Port Moresby's international airport after getting off a flight from Cains. The ABC understands he has been taken to the police fraud squad's office for questioning. Mr Tiensten fled to Brisbane in September despite being wanted for questioning by the taskforce which is investigating allegations of widespread corruption in the national planning department. He kept quiet as he was put in the back of a four-wheel drive and driven from the airport. Earlier this month he told the ABC the investigation was a politically motivated witch-hunt, but declared he would return to PNG to avoid being disqualified as a member of parliament. At the time, Mr Tiensten said he had nothing to hide but did not want to spend any time in a police lockup.