The Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill has stood down the Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister David Arore.
The newspaper, The National, says this comes after Mr Arore was charged with bribery in the lead-up to last year's election.
It says he is off duty indefitinely, pending the outcome of the charges.
The paper quotes sources as saying this gives Mr Arore the freedom and space to fully concentrate on defending the charges brought against him.
