4 Dec 2008

Top public servants in Bougainville face sack over financial irregularities

7:12 pm on 4 December 2008

Two senior public servants in the administration of Papua New Guinea's autonomous province of Bougainville could be sacked over the alleged misuse of public funds which has delayed important government decisions.

The Post Courier newspaper reports the Bougainville Executive Council is due to decide the fate of the two departmental chief executives later this week.

The ABG's acting vice-president, Mathias Salas, says one CEO has not accounted for 360,000 US dollars which was earmarked for operational purposes within the Autonomy and Implementation Division.

Mr Salas says the man also failed to provide reports to the Bougainville House of Representatives on the drawdown of powers by the National Government.

The other CEO is alleged to have been getting substantial kickbacks from contractors who had won tenders on Bougainville.

Meanwhile, a former acting chief administrator for the province, Raymond Masono, has been removed from his position over an alleged breach of the Public Finance Management Act.