Wheels of justice turn slowly for Philip Siaguru

UPDATE: 27 Nov. 2018 The Post Courier reports Philip Siagaru has been re-arrested and again charged with 12 counts of abuse of office after the original charges against him were dropped after he went overseas and was unavailable to be interviewed. ____________________________________________ Corruption, as we all know, is a huge problem in Papua New Guinea, draining billions of Kina from...

Simple scam nets ex-library boss K118,000

Corruption, the abuse of public office for personal gain, is endemic in Papua New Guinea. The amounts of money that are being stolen from the public purse every year are estimated to run into billions of Kina. This deprives the government of funds to pay for decent basic services, like health, education and transport infrastructure, and results in a public...

Profiting from Sickness

Profiting from Sickness is a three-part investigation into Papua New Guinea’s public health sector. It focuses on the abusive commercial transactions that are leading to the circulation of overpriced and sometimes substandard medical goods. These inhibit the standard of care provided in our hospitals, health centres and aid posts, and, ultimately, contribute to the appalling health outcomes and lowered life...

MP in K1 million DSIP fraud

On 19 May 2017, the former Member of Parliament for the Ligaip-Porgera seat in Enga Province, Phillip Kikala, was found guilty of stealing over K1.1 million in District Support Improvement Grant funds, just before the 2012 National elections. The court found, Kikala dishonestly misappropriated four separate sums of money by getting the funds paid out from Department of Rural Development...

PM’s Right Hand Man in Gabutu Palace Bonanza

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill cut his teeth in real-estate. It ended in a slew of damning findings that consumed the better part of two Commission of Inquiries. His right hand man during this period was Oscar Wandi Yamuna, allegedly O’Neill’s first cousin. In addition to acting as Director at Pangia Enterprises – one of the thoroughbreds in the O’Neill real-estate...

Profiting from Sickness

In Part I of Profiting from Sickness, PNGi presented evidence centering on the pharmaceutical company, Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals Limited. The evidence adduced came from a range of authorities including, auditors, journalists, medical associations, senior physicians, politicians and the Australian government. Central to all these allegations are claims that Borneo Pacific has been the beneficiary of flawed or rigged tender processes,...

Profiting from sickness

In Australia average life expectancy is 83, in Vanuatu it is 72, the Solomon Islands dips down slightly to 69, while in Papua New Guinea it is just 62.9. To put this in perspective, Papua New Guinea lies at the worst end of Sub-Saharan Africa. No other Pacific nation is in this league. The streets of the nation are strewn...

SABL leases null and void

UPDATED: Supreme Court confirms Akami Oil Palm SABL leases null and void 4 March 2022. The Supreme Court has confirmed two SABL leases issued to Akami Oil Palm Limited in West New Britain Province were fraudulently issued and therefore null and void. In a majority decision, the court upheld an earlier decision of the National Court that found there was...

Infrastructure honey pot

Prime Minister O’Neill has committed his government to another round of big spending in order to “improve” national highways, telecommunications and power supply. At face level, this policy statement has domestic and international appeal. Domestically remote communities, and businesses alike, suffer increased costs owing to poor transport corridors, and underperforming information-technology infrastructure. Internationally we have witnessed major donors like Australia,...

Forensically analysing grand corruption in PNG

Contagious Good Fortune

In The Midas Touch, PNGi documented in detail how, in tandem with his political career, Peter O’Neill has built an extensive business empire with assets worth hundreds of millions of kina. O’Neill’s good fortune has been contagious for a select group of business partners and associates; prime among them are the Cragnolinis, Sir Luciano and his wife Lady Ni Yumei,...

PM stake in Govt contractor hidden for 5 years

Investigating the Electoral Commissioner

In today’s Tokaut Blog criminologist Dr Kristian Lasslett, demonstrates a series of simple techniques – employing PNGi tools and freely available online resources – which citizens can use to investigate the Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato. The results of this citizens’ inquiry reveal a man who on successive occasions has breached his legal duties as a public and corporate official …...

The Midas Touch: Part 3

In tandem with his political career, Peter O’Neill has built an extensive business empire with interests in almost every sector of the economy and assets worth many hundreds of millions of Kina. The Midas Touch is an in-depth investigation by PNGi into the Prime Minister’s business empire and how it has been interwoven with his political career. The Midas Touch...

Susan Karike scandal

There has been an outflow of public sympathy for Papua New Guinea’s iconic flag designer, Susan Karike Huhume. Her body has lain in rest at Dove Funeral Homes for three months, after a promised state funeral never materialised. PNGi can reveal that Dove Funeral Homes is owned by three of the richest individuals in Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, Sir...

Duma’s hidden hand in K3 billion development

Minister for State Enterprises, William Duma, was suspended from government in February this year, after it was alleged he had a beneficial interest in a lucrative land deal made with Kumul Consolidated Holdings.[1] Peter O’Neill ordered an administrative inquiry into the affair, led by John Griffin QC.[2] In a PNGi exclusive, we reveal the testimony of a senior Paga Hill...

The Midas Touch: Part 2

In tandem with his political career, Peter O’Neill has built an extensive business empire with interests in almost every sector of the economy and assets worth many hundreds of millions of Kina. The Midas Touch is an in-depth investigation by PNGi into the Prime Minister’s business empire and how it has been interwoven with his political career. The Midas Touch...

Joseph Lelang

Joseph Lelang is the current Member of Parliament for Kandrian and Gloucester in West New Britain. He is also leader of the Coalition for Reform Party. Before entering Parliament in 2013, Lelang served two years as Secretary in the Department of National Planning and Monitoring; a period marked by several high-profile scandals that continue to re-emerge through the courts. Joseph...

The Midas Touch: Part 1

In tandem with his political career, Peter O’Neill has built an extensive business empire with interests in almost every sector of the economy and assets worth many hundreds of millions of Kina. The Midas Touch is an in-depth investigation by PNGi into the Prime Minister’s business empire and how it has been interwoven with his political career. The Midas Touch...

Corruption, Greed and Indifference

In this Insider podcast PNGi asks whether corruption is a product of individual greed, or are its poisonous seeds to be found in the global economic system. Insider host, Dr Kristian Lasslett, argues strongly that capital as the premiere social force today, is guided by self-interest and an unquenchable desire to expand, and is indifferent to how this takes place....

Nathaniel Poya

Nathaniel Poya is now in his second term as Chairman of the PNG Ports Corporation, yet his career has not all been plain sailing. A Commission of Inquiry has alleged Poya personally benefited from fraud while serving as a trustee; a K70 million company he owned was liquidated drawing the ire of a National Court judge for its failure to...

MRDC boss reported for possible tax evasion

The Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) is a State owned entity that manages landowner equity interests in mining and petroleum projects on behalf of landowner companies. Augustine Mano has been the Managing Director since March 2008. In his report for 2009, the Auditor General recorded his concern that Augustine Mano was avoiding paying tax on K600,000 a year, 80% of...

Augustine Mano

Augustine Mano is the Managing Director of the Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC). MRDC is responsible for the management of the landowner equity interests in mining and petroleum projects, with a portfolio of assets valued at over K1oo million in 2012. [1] Mano has been the Managing Director of MRDC since 2008. He was initially appointed under a contract worth...

MRDC boss in K6.5 million purchase

Augustine Mano is the Managing Director of the Mineral Resource Development Corporation. In this role he is responsible for the management of the landowner equity interests in mining and petroleum projects, valued at over K1oo million [1]. Augustine Mano also has his own extensive network of corporate interests. According to Investment Promotion Authority records, in June 2015, that network was...