PNG PM revokes citizenship of Indonesian 'fugitive'


PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his deputy, Belden Namah, have instructed their foreign affairs and immigration departments to withdraw the citizenship granted last week to fugitive Indonesian tycoon Joko Tjandra.

But Foreign Minister Ano Pala has defended granting the citizenship - providing PNG with another controversy before voting in the five-yearly national election starts tomorrow.

Joko, 61, fled from Jakarta by private jet in June 2009, shortly before he was convicted by the Indonesian Supreme Court of fraud, sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and ordered to repay $57 million he had obtained illegally.

Since then, Joko has spread his time between Singapore, Malaysia and PNG.

The PNG constitution requires new citizens to have lived in the country for eight years, to be of good character, and to speak a local language.

Joko is on Interpol's wanted list, and the Indonesian government has told PNG of its concerns on the issue.


Mr O'Neill said he had directed the withdrawal of Joko's citizenship pending a review by the Citizenship Advisory Committee. "I will not tolerate (the granting of citizenship) without due diligence in screening the people applying," he said.
Mr Namah went further, saying: "Whoever gave him the citizenship will be dealt with by the full force of the law."

He said a chartered jet in which he was flying over Indonesia six months ago was buzzed by two Indonesian air force fighters because it was suspected of carrying Joko.
But Mr Pala said he was satisfied Joko met all the requirements for citizenship: "Our primary interest in Mr Joko is his investments in our country."


Joko Tjandra was among a number of foreigners presented with a citizenship certificate last week by the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Advisory Committee.

Mr Tjandra is reportedly wanted by Interpol and faces allegations of fraud in Indonesia.
The National newspaper says Mr O'Neill has ordered Mr Tjandra's citizenship be revoked until a review of the process is complete.

"I will not tolerate practices in granting citizenships to people without proper screening and without due diligence on screening of people applying for citizenship," Mr O'Neill said.
The prime minister's decision comes after the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, Ano Pala, said he approved Mr Tjandra's citizenship on recommendation from the citizen advisory committee.

"He's not a fugitive, he's not a criminal. He had a civil case, he was not found guilty of a criminal offence and that is the information we got from our High Commissioner," Mr Pala told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat.
"That is the information that went to the citizenship advisory committee and on the basis of their recommendation citizenship was granted."

He says Mr Tjandra is a good businessman, an investor and a good person to be considered a citizen of Papua New Guinea.
Mr Tjandra is alleged to have been involved in a banking scandal in Indonesia where billions of dollars were allegedly laundered or transferred to his businesses and companies.

He reportedly left Indonesia on a chartered flight from Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta to Port Moresby on June 10 2010, just one day before the Supreme Court issued a verdict in his case.
Attempts by Radio Australia to to get comments from the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby to ascertain if Joko Tjandra is still wanted as a fugitive in Indonesia and for what specific crimes were unsuccessful


The Australian and ABC Reports

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