8 Feb 2005

Call for full inquiry on PNG white-collar crime

1:45 pm on 8 February 2005

The Papua New Guinea Opposition leader, Peter O'Neill, says there should be a Commission of Inquiry into high-level white-collar crime.

The National newspaper reports Mr O'Neill as saying the police and the Ombudsman Commission should also look into the information made available.

Mr O'Neill is referring to the secretary of the agriculture department who's accused the agriculture minister of serious wrongdoing.

There are also allegations that board members of the state-owned company Telikom have been receiving bribes.

The Opposition leader says the Prime Minister shouldn't allow allegations of this nature to be swept under the carpet, as he says had been the case with other serious allegations made against senior leaders.

Mr O'Neill says only a constituted inquiry can establish whether any laws have been breached, and can bring those culpable to justice.