Two former staff members of Papua New Guinea's parliament have been jailed defrauding the state of 57 thousand US dollars.
The front facade of Papua New Guinea's parliament featuring recently removed anthropomorphic carved heads on the front lintel. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika sentenced the former chief financial officer Charlie Aopi to four years in prison, while former travel clerk Lepsen Newe was sentenced to three years.
Sir Gibbs says Newe got a lesser sentence because there was no evidence he had received any of the money, with 55 thousand US dollars going to former clerk Don Pandan, and the remainder pocketed by Aopi.
The newspaper, The National, says two years will be deducted from the sentences if all the money the pair took is repaid within a year..
