16 Feb 2012

PNG's Somare camp hits out at action of corruption squad

8:21 pm on 16 February 2012

One of the two men claiming to be prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare, says his rival is blatantly using public servants to execute his political agenda.

Sir Michael says he is angry and disappointed at the way the O'Neill administration's Political Sweep Team acted in his native East Sepik Province on Wednesday.

The team has been set up to combat corruption.

Sir Michael says a heavily armed police squad swept unannounced into the East Sepik government's offices to carry out an investigation.

Sir Michael says if there are concerns about the actions of the provincial government the normal process would be to first suspend it or send in officials to provide assistance.

He says it is inappropriate for Mr O'Neill to send in police and a vigilante squad to arrest and confiscate documents to make a case against the East Sepik government.