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.
Seen to be smiling in these pictures, but not for long. Give back to the people what belongs to them.
Fourteen MPs charged, awaiting sentence, dismissed, imprisoned or found not guilty - so far!
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 propery
Public Prosecutor requested a Leadership Tribunal, March 2015.
Tribunal appointed in May 2015.
Leadership Tribunal led by Justice Goodwin Poole found the leader not guilty on both allegations levelled against him.
Delilah Gore, MP for Sohe, Community Development MinisterReferred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, January 2015. Leadership Tribunal appointed in May 2015 in relation to allegations Gore refused to comply with airline safety regulations.
Delilah Gore was found guilty on one out of two allegations relating to an in-flight incident at Girua Airport in Popondetta last year. She was found not guilty of using her phone on the plane as evidence presented to the tribunal suggested otherwise.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=920911821283220&set=gm.949272071777675&type=1
Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development and Sohe MP Delilah Gore has been suspended from office for three months without pay. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/Stories/sohe-mp-suspended-without-pay/#.Vck1UvEwhbV
David Arore, MP for IjivitariRemoved as the member for Ijivitari after the National Court, Popondetta, for allegations of Bribery in the 2012 National Elections. http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/05/david-arore-ousted-as-mp.html
John Hickey, MP for BogiaArrested and charged by police for misappropriation of K700,000, March 2015
May 2015, referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission to face a Leadership Tribuna for failing to lodge his financial returns after the 2012 election.
Havila Kavo, MP for GulfFound 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 and agian charged 18th June, while on bail with misappropriation of K783,195 of the MRDC provincial dividend funds paid to the Gulf Provincial Government from January 5-27th 2015. http://www.postcourier.com.pg/News/gulf-governor-arrested-while-on-bail-for-misuse-of-funds/#.VYIHyPEwi8V and now granted bail set at K5,000 by Grade Five District Magistrate Cosmos Bidar.https://www.facebook.com/groups/326819464091972/820677148039532/?notif_t=group_activity
Ronny Knight, MP for ManusFound guilty of misappropriation of K900,000 by a Leadership Tribunal, March 2015 and dismissed from office, May 1, 2015.
Boka Kondra, North Fly MP and Tourism MinisterFound guilty by a Leadership tribunal on six counts of misappropriation on 27 April 2015. The Tribunal recommended Kondra also face criminal prosecution.
Kondra had been referred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission and suspended from Office for alleged misappropriation and misuse of funds totalling K238,000 from the DSIP funds and District Support Grant in making rental payments for accommodation in Port Moresby.
James Lagea, Kagua-Erave MPReferred 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 Leadership.
Ben Micah, Kavieng MP and Public Service MinisterReferred to the Public Prosecutor by the Ombudsman Commission, March 2015
http://www.pngloop.com/2015/03/10/minister-ben-micah-referred-misconduct-office-claims/ and now has obtained a court order restraining the Public Prosecutor from deliberating on his referral by the Ombudsman Commission (OC) pending his Supreme Court appeal. http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/90653.
It is understood the referral may relate to allegations the Minister has been living at the Grand Papua Hotel at the taxpayers expense
The Supreme Court is satisfied with Mr Micah has an arguable case and was not satisfied that the Leadership Tribunal had the jurisdiction to consider of the referral was valid. The order has told the commission to provide Mr Micah the reasons for its referral within 7 days http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278940/png-minister-wins-supreme-court-appeal
UPDATED: 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.
Namah refuses to step down as Govenor. He is challenging the State and those opposing his election as Governor by the provincial assembly last April to take the matter to court
A Leadership Tribunal was appointed on 12 October 2015 to hear the charges against him. The tribunal is due to begin hearings on Otcober 23.
Peter O'Neill - Ialibu Pangia MP and Prime MinisterReferred 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
Francis Potape, Komo-Magarima MPJailed Komo Magarima MP Francis Potape has been released from prison, after a review of his penalty by the Supreme Court.http://news.pngfacts.com/2015/07/potape-released-from-prison.html
Found guilty of misappropriation of over US$100,000, October 2014, and sentenced to 30 months prison
Puka Temu, Abau MPReferred 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.
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.
