The thirteen MPs so far charged, waiting sentence or imprisoned

From ACT NOW!

For those of you who are keeping track, this is an update on the Papua New Guinea members of Parliament who have been charged or found guilty and await sentence or have been imprisoned to date:

CHARGED: Francis Awesa, MP for Imbonggu, Works Minister

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, Nov 2014 for unlawfully engrossed a public easement for personal use and in the process denied the public right of access and failure to disclose a property. Public Prosecutor requested a Leadership Tribunal, March 2015

• http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/03/png-works-minister-francis-awesa-to.html

CHARGED: Delilah Gore, MP for Sohe, Community Development Minister

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, January 2015

• http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/6542/png-ombudsman-refers-minister-gore-for-alleged-mis/

CHARGED: John Hickey, MP for Bogia

Arrested and charged by police for misappropriation of K700,000, March 2015

• http://dev.postcourier.com.pg/Stories/bogia-mp-arrested/#.VRjKiSi0HaI

PRISON: Havila Kavo, MP for Gulf

Found guilty of misusing US$50,000 from a trust account. Sentenced to three years prison, December 2014

• http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/261380/png-provincial-governor-jailed

GUILTY: Ronny Knight, MP for Manus

Found guilty of misappropriation of K900,000 by a Leadership Tribunal, March 2015. Awaiting sentencing.

• http://www.pngblogs.com/2015/03/post-analysis-ronnie-knight-found.html

CHARGED: Boka Kondra, North Fly MP and Tourism Minister

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission and suspended from Office for alleged misappropriation and misuse of funds including K85, 276 from the DSIP funds and District Support Grant; K134, 966 from DSIP and DSG funds in rental payments for accommodation in Port Moresby; and K18, 200 from the DSIP and DSG

• http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/85517
• http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/6605/minister-kondra-suspended/

CHARGED: James Lagea, Kagua-Erave MP

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission in January 2015 for his failure to submit Financial Returns as required under Section 89 of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates and his failure in upholding his duties and responsibilities of office as required under Section 27 of the Constitution and the Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leaderhship.

• http://www.ombudsman.gov.pg/15-press-release-articles/58-pr-hon-james-lagea-referred-to-pp

CHARGED: Ben Micah, Kavieng MP and Public Service Minister

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, March 2015

• http://www.pngloop.com/2015/03/10/minister-ben-micah-referred-misconduct-office-claims/

The referral may relate to allegations the Minister has been living at the Grand Papua Hotel at the taxpayers expense

• https://pngexposed.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/is-minister-ben-micah-living-at-the-grand-papua-hotel/

CHARGED: Belden Namah – Vanimo-Green MP

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission for alleged misconduct in office, April 2015. Mr Namah faces at least 16 categories of misconduct, including failure to declare his election expenses and failure to acquit public funds among others.

• http://dev.postcourier.com.pg/Stories/namah-referred-to-public-prosecutor/#.VSx5rii0HaI

CHARGED: Peter O’Neill – Ialibu Pangia MP and Prime Minister

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission over accusations of bypassing proper procedures to secure a $1.3 billion loan from UBS bank to buy Oil Search shares for the PNG government. The referral is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court. O’Neill is also using the courts to challenge an arrest warrant issued in June 2014 over allegations of fraud

• http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-09/png-court-delays-misconduct-tribunal-against-prime-minister/6008018

PRISON: Francis Potape, Komo-Magarima MP

Found guilty of misappropriation of over US$100,000, October 2014, and sentenced to 30 months prison

• http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/264044/third-png-mp-jailed-for-corruption

CHARGED: Puka Temu, Abau MP

Referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, March 2015, for alleged misconduct in office. The first allegation relates to the facilitation and allocation of a piece of state land to a group in Western Highlands when he was Lands Minister in the Somare-Temu Government. The second allegation refers to a road contract awarded by the Abau Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee, allegedly to a company owned by a close relative of Sir Puka.

• http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268505/another-png-minister-referred-for-misconduct
• http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/03/png-public-service-minister-sir-puka.html

PRISON: Paul Tiensten, Pomio MP and Minister for National Planning

Sentenced to nine years prison in 2014 for stealing over K10 million.

In February 2015 convicted over the theft of a further K3.4 million with a further 3 years added on his sentence.

• http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/expng-minister-paul-tiensten-gets-nine-years-jail/story-e6frg6so-1226870122116
• http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/02/jailed-pm-paul-tiensten-convicted-again.html