PNGi INVESTIGATES
The Jimmy Maladina Scandal You Didnt See!
...to frustrate the Provincial Government’s actions. As a result of Maladina’s actions the Milne Bay Provincial Government was dragged through the courts for 7 years, for simply attempting to uphold the law, against a defiant Maladina. The Milne Bay Provincial Government set out in its submission to the court the fraudulent basis upon which the state lease had been issued....
THE TOKAUT BLOG
Govt to cede sovereignty in cryptocurrency gamble
...on 5th of April 2018. The bill gives that MOA the force of law and dominance over any other laws. It compels the national, provincial and local level governments and government departments to comply with the MOA. [Section 4 and Schedule 1]. The questions this investigation throws up seem almost limitless, but one wonders how the global investors Credit Suisse...
POWER PROFILES
Chris Haiveta: A Slippery Fish?
...of misconduct against Chris Haiveta relating to his previous terms in office between 1993 and 2003. The 28 charges he faces relate to Failure to give annual statements on time for the period 1993-1994 to 2001-2003, Misapplication of K1,405,500 of provincial support grants, Failure to acquit provincial support grants for 1999-2001, Misapplication of K524,000 of public funds for 2001 and...
POWER PROFILES
Michael Nali Part 3: Climbing the Great Wall
...reach into New Ireland. In January this year, CRG’s subsidiary, China Railway International Group Corporation Ltd was reportedly in talks with the New Ireland government over its potential involvement in major projects, such as the Provincial Government Offices, Kavieng Foreshore development, New Ireland University, Kavieng Sports Stadium and a new Kavieng Market. While China Railway Group may be the beneficiary...
POWER PROFILES
Michael Nali Part 2: Friends, Allies and Business
...a man whose commercial dealings have been censured in two Commissions of Inquiry. Additionally, Nali has also acted as a Director for a company owned by, William Powi, in his capacity as Southern Highlands Governor. That company is now owned by the Southern Highlands Provincial Government. Nali is also Director of Highlands AIC Limited which is 50% owned by the...
POWER PROFILES
Michael Nali Part 1: A Bad Penny Returns?
...Provincial Government Allocation and away from the Provincial Treasury and bureaucratic process into an account where he would retain the sole management, control and discretion over its use’. In total the account was used to manage over K2.3 million. Whether Nali knew the funds were from an illegal source was never established. However, the tribunal did find that Nali deposited...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
Woodlark Island Logging Scam Part 2: DAL Approval
...travel by ship to the Provincial centre, Alotau, or 90 minutes flight time on a chartered aircraft to Port Moresby. The report notes previous attempts to grow cocoa failed, “Cocoa was once grown successfully but due to hinderance to the market excess [sic] resulted in abandonment” [page 4] Not the most promising location then for large-scale agriculture! Indeed the DAL...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
Woodlark Island Logging Scam Part 1: Ebony Woods
...DAL assessment team from Port Moresby. [Assessment Report, page iv] So it appears reasonable to hypothesise that the company referred to in all the official documentation as Ebony Woods Limited is really Ebony Woods Investment Limited. The owner, Samson Siguyaru, is a former policeman. He was most recently the Provincial Police Commander for West New Britain. (Facebook) Ebony Woods Limited...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
The Yama Files Part V: The Tale of 10 Supreme Court Judges
...Madang and the Bundi area, allegedly spreading fear within the communities. In one incident, a shot was allegedly fired by one of Yama’s sons amidst passengers waiting to board a plane at Madang Airport. This followed an argument between Peter Yama and his arch political rival Anton Yagama. These incidents led the police to launch investigations. The Provincial Police Commander,...
THE COURT REPORT
Men of faith and education use charity to steal K7 million
...University, in Christchurch, New Zealand. According to the state, he is Governor Wobiro’s Economic Adviser. Dr Gumoi was also at the time, Western Province Provincial Administrator and Chair of the Joint Provincial Planning and Budget Priorities Committee (JPP & BPC). According to his boss, Ati Wobiro: ‘Dr Gumoi is a fine man; he’s a Christian man and is very well...
THE COURT REPORT
Stealing the Public Wealth: Ghost Contracts
Anyone who has witnessed recurrent budget expenditure at a provincial or indeed national level, knows, that like a sieve, it has many holes which money falls through improperly to the benefit of public officials, politicians and their business allies. When an administration spends large sums on car hire for example – given there is no tangible deliverable – these deals...
THE TOKAUT BLOG
Serious questions over Collingwood Bay logging
...Act, the Oro Provincial Forest Management Committee did not approve the application until after the FCA was already granted and the performance bond imposed, K100,000, ‘does not match the magnitude of the proposed operation’. According to the Brief, the Forest Authority was cancelling the FCA, the log export application had been rejected and the stockpiled timber was to be seized....
PNGi INVESTIGATES
LD Logistics
...this drugs are sitting in Hagen waiting for dispatchment while our people in Karamui/Nomani district are dying”. Similarly, the Burnet Institute evaluation notes: “Sandaun Provincial administration wrote in May 2013 regarding ongoing poor and inconsistent deliveries by LD Logistics of essential and TB medicines, citing risks of treatment interruption, noting that deliveries expected in March arrived in May and that...
POWER PROFILES
John Pundari
...Twenty-five years as an MP and businessman The Politician John Pundari has served as the MP for Kompiam-Ambum for twenty of the past twenty-five years. His only election defeat came in 2002, when he abandoned his local constituency and contested the Enga Provincial seat, where he lost out to Peter Ipitas. Five years later, 2007, Pundari was re-elected MP for...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
Ministerial PMIZ Concerns Spot On
...made to Greenhill Investments for the Sepik Highway Road Construction Project’. The Committee continues: Subsequent to these payments, the Provincial Supply & Tenders Board agreed to a contract with Greenhill Investment and the balance of K 1,119,632 of the K 2,001,222 appears to have been paid upon the approval. Both the Committee and the Auditor General found great difficulty in...
THE COURT REPORT
MP in K1 million DSIP fraud
...would have been misused by the district and provincial public servants. He also claimed that he was not responsible for acquitting for the funds as that was the responsibility of the District Administrator; a claim the court dismissed as the District Administrator was not aware of the payments and was only responsible for acquitting for funds which were paid through...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
Profiting from Sickness
...the West New Britain Provincial Health Authority. He is a former President of the PNG Medical Society, a role he served in for eleven years from 1999 to 2010. During that time he praised Sir Sang Chung Poh, after Borneo Pacific made a sizable donation to the society. He also served as Acting Vice Chancellor of the School of Medicine...
THE TOKAUT BLOG
Investigating the Electoral Commissioner
...and Sarawaget Risos Limited, which form part of the Morobe Provincial Government’s business arm. We now have a list of key entities managed by Gamato: Morobe Provincial Government Provincial government business arms, Kum-Gie Holdings, Earth Movers PNG Limited, and Sarawaget Risos Limited. Electoral Commission Other corporate entities, Huon Penninsula Investments Limited, and Yekora Resources Development Company Limited. Accordingly, we can...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
The Midas Touch: Part 3
...recent years. Clients include the: Department of Works National Roads Authority National Airports Corporation Provincial Governments Oil Search Exxon Horizon TOTAL AusAid; and The Asian Development Bank. Wild Cat’s CEO, Tom Derby, acknowledges however, that Wild Cat has traditionally over-relied on direct government contracts for the majority of its infrastructure work. To diversify its portfolio and mitigate against sovereign risk,...
THE COURT REPORT
The State -v- Achilles James Peni
...well as the Executive Officer for the Provincial Supply and Tenders Board, testified that work exceeding K300,000 must go through the board. Protocol was not followed in this case. Patrick Koles, who was a member of the Provincial Tenders Board, supported this version of events. Koles also stated that, as the Finance Officer, he was threatened into signing the payment...
PNGi INVESTIGATES
Elite network behind Paga Hill Estate
...former Minister, Michael Nali, who is also a PHDC shareholder via Kwadi Inn Limited. The sole shareholder of the holding company is the Southern Highlands Provincial Government. In addition, there is Sharp Hills Investment Limited, a company fully owned by Southern Highlands Governor William Tipi, who entered parliament as an MP for Peter O’Neill’s People’s National Congress party. According to...