PNG Anti-Corruption Movement for Change

16/08/2025

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

National Disgrace: Bribery Faces at the Lands Department are Delaying Foreign Investment in Papua New Guinea

Bribery and corruption in the Lands Department are actively delaying vital foreign investment, exemplified by the stalled 10,000-hectare rice project by Filipino investor Century Peak Holdings at Brown River in Central Province. Despite being a major import-replacement initiative designated as a Special Economic Zone and receiving high-level political support, the project remains paralyzed due to unresolved land title issues within the Department.

This case highlights a systemic national crisis. Officers routinely demand bribes, creating a "pay-to-play" system for essential services like land title processing, boundary resolution, and compensation claims. This practice victimizes both foreign investors and customary landowners across PNG. Landowners crowding the Lands Department offices are often forced to pay corrupt officials significant sums simply to access basic services related to registering their land for development or claiming rightful compensation.

The problem extends beyond individual bribery to large-scale fraudulent schemes. The Department enabled massive land grabs through mechanisms like Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs), where vast tracts of customary land were leased without proper owner consent, primarily for logging. High-level corruption is further evidenced by scandals like Manumanu, where millions were misappropriated in state land deals involving officials.

These practices have severe consequences. Major projects, like the $10 billion Papua LNG, face delays alongside the rice project, damaging PNG's investment climate and hindering economic growth. Simultaneously, landowners are dispossessed and exploited, with groups like Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) receiving hundreds of land corruption complaints over the years.

Recognizing the department is "totally corrupt," former Lands Minister Justin Tkatchenko has initiated a five-year cleanup plan. This includes establishing a functional Fraud and Complaints Unit, reviewing and canceling fraudulent SABLs, modernizing the collapsed land registry system, and holding corrupt personnel accountable. Civil society, led by TIPNG, provides crucial support through legal aid and advocacy. A relentless overhaul is essential, targeting corruption from frontline officers to implicated officials, to restore functionality and unlock PNG's economic potential.

PNG Anti-Corruption Movement for Change

04/06/2025

BREAKING NEWS 🇵🇬😱 JACOB YAFAI CASE CLOSING IN ON JAMES MARAPE, STEVEN GIBSON & PETER O'NEILL ⚖️🇵🇬🙏

CHIEF Justice Sir Gibbs Salika has reserved his ruling after hearing submissions on the verdict in the misappropriation and abuse of office charges against Paul Paraka’s co-accused Jacob Yafai.

Yafai, the former deputy finance secretary, from East Sepik’s Karapia village in Yangoru-Saussia, was charged with four counts each of official corruption, abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud and misappropriation of four cheque payments worth K41.8 million made to Paul Paraka Lawyers in 2012-2013.

Sir Gibbs who presided over the case against Yafai yesterday heard submissions from the defence and the State.

The State submitted that Yafai in his capacity as a Section 32 officer made the alleged payments to Paul Paraka Lawyers despite knowing that the payments were illegal because of a stay order issued by the Supreme Court.

Yafai’s lawyer Edward Sasingian in his submission argued that his client was acting on directives issued to him by then Finance Department Secretary (late) Steven Gibson based on a letter by then Finance Minister James Marape.

“When Marape gave evidence in court, he was shown three of his letters, one of which was an internal memo by him,” Sasingiansaid. “The first letter is dated Oct 2, 2012, the second dated Oct 3, 2012 and the third letter dated Oct 31, 2012.

“Marape never disputed his signature on these letter therefore, these letters are his letters.”

Sasingian also submitted that the letter dated Oct 3, 2012 from Marape was a specific direction to Gibson to make sure PaulParaka Lawyers bills were fully paid.

“Once again, Yafai is not copied in the letter,” he said.

He submitted that on Oct 31, 2012, Marape wrote an internal memo and directed it to Gibson to make payments using the Reserve Trust Account.

“In terms of documentary evidence, this was the last letter or directive issue by Marape as the Minister in favour for payment to Paul Paraka Lawyer,” Sasingian said.

Sasingian further submitted that Marape came to court and confirmed his letter but he however, stated that on Oct 31, 2012, he issued that memo in the morning and in the afternoon on that same day, he received a call from former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to put hold payments to Paul Paraka Lawyers.

“The date of the directive is important because it is on Nov 1, 2012 when K17 million was paid to Paul Paraka Lawyers as directed by Gibson to Yafai which clearly contradicts what Marape said in court that he had told Gibson on Oct 31, 2012 to stop the payments,” Sasingian said.

Source: https://www.thenational.com.pg/sir-gibbs-reserves-ruling-on-verdict-of-misappropriation-case/



PNG Anti-Corruption Movement for Change

04/06/2025

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