Government moves to crack down housing corruption: A report will be presented to Parliament on the Investigations

IN a whim to crack down on corruption in Papua New Guinea's National Housing Corporation, the National Executive Council has setup an investigation body to check the financial management affairs and issuing of home titles in the recent years.

While this move was supported by the Opposition, the National Housing Corporation Managing Director John Dege has handed in his resignation today which will be effective as of October 20.

In an earlier PNG Media report, Mr. Dege has terminated more than 50 staff to clean the corruption.

PNG Loop reports the housing board meet to accept his resignation resignation.

A report will be presented to parliament on the investigations.

Housing issues are long overdue. Somewhere along the way, some things needed to be done to correct the housing problems in PNG. 

PNG will earnestly wait for the outcome this investigation. It must not be just another investigation to go under the carpet. Somethings must be done for justice here.

Photo: PNG's National Housing Corporation Managing Director John Dege who resigned today (11/10/16) to allow for investigations. Image: PNG Loop / Supplied.

A Post-analysis of Singapore deal: Papua New Guinea Community College Trust Scandal - Part 3

by BRYAN KRAMER

THIS is Part 3 of a possible seven (7) part series of articles providing insight into the recent decision (1/9/16) by Singapore Supreme Court to imprison/jail former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust, American, Thomas Doehrman and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah for upto 5 years over fraud and money laundering offences.

Part 1 - provided a brief of the Court ruling and covered some background information to answer the question what is PNG Community College Trust, why it was established and the parties involved in its dealing's.

Part 2 - provided sequence of events surrounding the payment of the secret commission of $3.6 million and the subsequent distribution of the proceeds to the benefit of various persons.

In Part 3 I will discuss the extracts from the statements submitted by Doehrman and his wife, Lim during the course of the first police interviews which the Prosecution relied during the trial to secure their conviction's.

On 15 March 2011 members of Singapore Corruption Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) picked up Doehrman's wife Lim for questioning in relation to the payment of $3.6 million to Questzone Offshore Ltd from ZTE Corporation.

When questioned whether any arrangements were made regarding the $3.6 million. Lim responded:

"I wish to state on a few occasions in 2010 the details of which I can not remember, myself, my husband Tom [Doehrman] and Stephen [Li Weiming] met up to discuss this issue."

"Sometime in beginning 2010 Steven Li met up with me and told me to setup a British Virgin Island (BVI) company as he wanted payments to the PNG PM as [he] had given the community college project to ZTE. He also told me his wife would be setting up a company and he will receive payments from BVI company. He told me that his bosses did not want to make any payments to Quest Petroleum and wanted a BVI company. I understand that ZTE have to pay PNG PM to get work in Papua New Guinea."

Lim went on to explain in paragraph 36 of her statement that Questzone Offshore Ltd was set up in order to receive payments from ZTE"

(Paragraphs 37-39) "Questzone Offshore was essentially a shell company set up to receive to receive $3.6 million from ZTE."

What is a shell company? It is a company without active business operations or significant assets (a paper company) "These types of companies are sometimes used illegitimately, such as to disguise business ownership from law enforcement or the public." The term shell company is representative of something that is really an empty shell.

Lim also acknowledged she was a director of Questzone Offshore Pte Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company of which she is the sole member apart from her sister, Ms Lim Swee Kheng, who is a nominal director. ( A nominal company director is a person appointed to be a director but doesn't play any active role in the company's affairs or dealings).

Now CPIB raised these issues because they were trying to establish whether or not the invoice issued by Questzone Offshore to ZTE was genuine or a fake and part of a conspiracy or scam to defraud ZTE and PNG Community College Trust - where the proceeds were later laundered (disguised to look legitimate) to the benefit of the named persons who had a direct conflict of interest in the transaction.

Following Lim's interview the next day on 16th March 2011 CPIB conducted a formal interview of Doehrman.

He acknowledged during his record of interview that:

"...[Questzone Offshore] was set up for the collection of commission for the USD$35 million project that was given to ZTE Corporation,.."

When asked what is the business activity of Questzone Offshore Ltd, he responded:

"I do not know. The company registration was done by the secretarial firm, Porticulus [sic]. From what I know Questzone Offshore Limited has no business dealings. It was set up to collect the commission and made payments out to Ai Wah, PM of PNG, Moox, and Stephen and also to hold contingency monies.."

Portcullis Trustnet is a wealth management company based in Singapore. They also setup and sell offshore companies based in British Virgin Islands which help ensure names, finances, business interests and political links remain hidden. It does this using a variety of methods, such as creating maze-like layers of companies and financial trusts in multiple countries and in many cases helping clients open overseas bank accounts in the names of anonymous companies rather than in their own names.

Doehrman went to on explain:

"During the initial stage of the [community college] project, it was estimated that the value was $3.6 million. Sometime in June or July 2010 at Shangri-La Hotel in Shenzhen (China) Stephen, Ai Wah [Lim] and I were there for a meeting. In the meeting, Stephen was the one who said set aside 10% commission. The 10% commission of the estimated project value of US$36 million was calculated to be US$3.6 million."

When asked who decided on the amount of commission to be paid? Doehrman replied,

"I wish to say that the decision was collective between me, Ai Wah, [Lim], Stephen and Moox on certain matters of contingencies" (possible future needs).

On 17th March 2011 CPIB interviewed Stephen (Li Weiming) - no details of his statement are provided.

On 18th March 2011 CPIB recalled Lim for a further interview which she confirmed Questzone had no employees or associates. The company had no concrete plans to hire any employees in the future nor did own or rent office space or even have Postal (PO Box) address. When asked if Questzone had signed any contracts with any companies she replied

"I wish to reply that no, Questzone Offshore has not signed any business contracts"

Following the interviews of Lim, Doehrman and Stephen no formal charges were made against them. Now this is an important issue as it is beyond question CPIB were of the view a crime had been committed which triggered their investigation.

The preliminary findings and initial record of interviews revealed that:

1) In early 2010 PNG Community College Trust and ZTE entered into discussions in the awarding of US$35 million frame contract to supply the community college project in PNG.

2) In May 2010 Lim setup Questzone Offshore Ltd to receive commissions from ZTE. She and her Sister were directors of the company which she setup allegedly acting on a request by Stephen Weiming

3) Questzone was a shell company without any employees, place of business or signed any contracts with any businesses.

4) In June 2010 the PNG Community College Project contract was estimated to be $36 million.

5) In July 2010 Questzone invoiced ZTE $3.6 million purportedly (allegedly) being for Contract for Equipment Supply" It was attached with a cover letter stating it was for a Contract of Service.

6) The invoice implied it was raised on the back of a sub-contract between Questzone Offshore and ZTE to provide services to ZTE in the delivery of the PNG Community College Project.

7) However Lim submitted a statement that Questzone Offshore has not signed any business contracts.

8) Following formal record of interviews Lim and Doehrman confirmed the $3.6 million was a 10% commission of contract which by June 2010 had been revised to be $36 million.

6) Days after ZTE issued payment of $3.6 million to Questzone Offshore, portions of the proceeds were paid to individuals who had a direct conflict of interest in the transaction.

So why weren't they charged? My view is that while CPIB had established a crime had been committed they needed a complainant, in that either ZTE or PNG Community College Trust to file a complaint to say they had been defrauded.

In this case both parties were involved in the transaction which included ZTE's chief representative Stephen Li Weiming seeking to secure a lucrative US$35 million (K120 million) contract on behalf of ZTE and members of PNG Community College Trust namely, Thomas Doehrman and allegedly his Deputy Michael Somare Jnr seeking to benefit from a secret commission (kick back)

On 30 August 2010 ZTE paid the $3.6 million pursuant (according) to Questzone Offshore invoice, all while the contract had yet to be awarded to ZTE by PNG Community College Trust.

The very next day on 31st August 2010 following the payment a formal contract was signed between ZTE and PNG Community College Trust valued at $38.8 million.

Now it can be argued no actual funds were defrauded from PNG Community College Trust as the $3.6 million was paid by ZTE Corporation before any contract was awarded to them.

However it begs the question whether the increase in the initial contract price from $35 million to $38.8m was to make provision (provide) for the recovery of $3.6 million secret commission initially paid by ZTE in a possible scheme to secure the contract.

If correct then ultimately PNG Community College Trust (People of PNG) was defrauded through the inflation of the contract by $3.8 million ($35 million to $38.8 million)

Now it would not be in ZTE's interest to file a complaint for fraud against one of their own employee's or the Chairman of the Trust including Somare Jnr if they had agreed to pay a secret commission to Questzone with the intent to secure the $36 million (K120 million) main contract from PNG Community College Trust.

It wasn't until a year later on 25 July 2012 in the height of the political impasse between Somare and O'neill, a period Somare had lost the office of Prime Minister, CPIB laid formal charges against Doehrman, his wife Lim and Stephen Weiming. This also raises the question whether members of O'neill Namah Government played a part in assisting CPIB investigations in an effort to undermine Somare's return in 2012 elections. I am reliably informed members of O'Neill/Namah Government made numerous trips to Singapore to make inquiries into the status of investigations by CPIB.

On 25 July 2012 Doehrman, Lim and Stephen were each charged with six offences. A single charge of conspiracy (secret plan) to falsify accounts namely fictitious (fake) invoice and sub-contract between ZTE and Questzone to procure the payment of $3.6 million. The remaining five charges of concealing and transferring benefits of criminal conduct (Money laundering) namely two payments ($750,000 and $100,000) to Stephen's wife's company in Hong Kong and three payments totalling $784,000 made into Somare's Singapore account.

Following their arrest all three were subject to further record of interview before being formally charged.

Part 4 we will discuss statements made during the record of interview by Doehrman and Lim following their arrest including their claims directly implicating Grand Chief Somare and his son Michael Somare Jnr.

We will consider whether their statements are credible or partly fabricated with the intent to avoid criminal prosecution. Lastly, we will consider the reasoning why Doehrman and Lim insisted the invoice was for a commission even though the particulars of invoice clearly stated it was for a contract of equipment.

Photo: Doehrman and Sheppard meeting with Fr./Dr. Xavier Alphonse and ZTE officials in Singapore in 2012.

Note: There are seven (7) parts to this articles: 

Part One: Singapore Supreme Court sentenced former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust American Thomas Doehrman (Doorman) and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah to prison for 5 years 10 months and 5 years respectively after finding them guilty of conspiring with Chinese national Li Weiming to defraud US$3.6 million (K11.6 million) from the ZTE corporation - a Chinese company that is a global supplier of information, technology and telecommunications equipment that was awarded $35 million contract by the PNG Community College Trust.

It explains what is PNG Community College????   

Part Two:  Provides insights into the decision by Singapore Supreme Court to convict (find guilty) and imprison former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust Thomas Doehrman and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah over fraud and money laundering offences.

Its reveals how the deal was done to award the contract.?????? 

Part Three:  A discussion on the extracts from the statements submitted by Doehrman and his wife, Lim during the course of the first police interviews which the Prosecution relied during the trial to secure their conviction's.
It shows what was actually done behind the closed doors??? 

A post-analysis of Singapore deal: Papua New Guinea Community College Trust Scandal - Part 2

by BRYAN KRAMER

THIS is part two of a seven (7) part series of articles providing insight into the recent decision by Singapore Supreme Court to convict (find guilty) and imprison former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust Thomas Doehrman and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah over fraud and money laundering offences. 

In Part One, I provided details of the charges and decision of the Court including background information to answer the question what is PNG Community College Trust, why it was established and the parties involved in its dealings. This article will focus on the findings of police investigation's surrounding the payment of the secret commission of $3.6 million paid by ZTE Corporation that led to formal charges being laid against Doehrman, his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah and Chinese national Li Weiming former employee of ZTE Corporation. 

I explained in Part 1 sometime in early 2010 members of Trust which included Chairman Doehrman, Deputy Chairman Michael Somare Jnr (nickname Moox) and Greg Sheppard met with ZTE Corporation's representative Li Weiming (nickname Stephen) to supply equipment and build infrastructure for community college project in PNG valued at US$35 million.

The contract included ZTE Corporation being main contractor to supply the entire project, completing and assisting phase 1 and phase 2 with the gateway satellite connectivity to set the stage for all 89 community college by 2015 with virtual university and nation-wide e-books (online library).

However before the contract was formally awarded ZTE Corporation received an invoice dated 15 July 2010 for the amount of $3.6 million from a company called Questzone Offshore Ltd, that only registered in British Virgin Islands a month earlier on 4 May 2010 by Doehrman's wife Lim Wah. She registered her sister Lim Swee Kheng and herself as company directors.

British Virgin Islands are an offshore tax haven (tax free) jurisdiction where most companies operate without having to disclose their ownership or business dealings.

Following the registration of the company in BVI Wah also setup a company account with the Standards Chartered Bank (SCB) in Singapore.

In July 2010, Wah instructed her sister to invoice ZTE Corporation for $3.6 million in respect of a "Contract for Equipment Supply" of Education System for PNG Community College and Technical Education System between "ITE Trust" and "ZTE Corporation."

The invoice dated 15 July 2010 was issued under a cover letter entitled "Service Contract" for Education for System of PNG Community College Fund and Technical Vocational Education System.

On 30 July 2010 pursuant to the invoice, ZTE Corporation paid into Questzone's Singapore account $3.6 million.

On 3 August 2010 Wah arranged the transfer of $US750,000 from Questzone's Singapore SCB account to a Hong Kong HSBC bank account registered under the company J&M International Ltd. A company set up under Stephen's wife.

On 16 August 2010 Wah issued a Questzone cheque for $280,000 payable to Sir Michael Thomas Somare. On 17 August 2010 she deposited it into his Singapore Foreign Investment Cheque and Savings Account held with Standard Chartered Bank. On the same date a lump sum cash withdrawal of US$250,000 was made from the same account.

On 1 September 2010 Wah issued a second cheque payable to Sir Michael Thomas Somare for the same amount. The cheque was deposited on 2nd September 2010. Again on same date $250,000 was withdrawn, however this time in two equal transactions; a cash withdraw of US$125,000 and the second transfer of $125,000 to a general account (OneAccount) also held in Somare's name.

On 3rd September 2010 a transfer of US$168,500 was registered into Somare's general account to believed part of $125,000 + plus additional US43,500 presumably in cash. The same day the total $168,500 was again withdraw in cash.

On 12 November 2010 Wah issued a third cheque payment to Sir Michael Thomas Somare for US$244,000. On 7 December 2010 $220,000 cheque withdrawal (323213) - payee unknown.

Three payments made to Somare totaled $784,000 were made into Somare's Foreign Investment Cheque and Savings Account held with Singapore Standard Chartered Bank. A total of $625,000 was withdraw in cash. $125,5000 was transferred to his general account which was also withdraw in cash.

On 29 November Wah arranged a second and last transfer of $US100,000 from Questzone's Singapore SCB account to Stephen's wife's company account in Hong Kong, bringing the total to US$850,000 (US$750,000 + US$100,000)

A summary of the transactions out of Questzone Offshore Ltd SCB account are as follows:

30/07/10 deposit of US$3.6 million by ZTE Corporation
03/08/10 transfer of US$750,000 to Stephen's wife Co. HK Acct
16/08/10 cheque pmt $280,000 to Somare's Singapore SCB Acct
01/01/10 cheque pmt $280,000 to Somare's Singapore SCB Acct
12/11/10 cheque pmt $244,000 to Somare's Singapore SCB Acct
29/11/10 transfer of US$100,000 to Stephen's wife Co. HK Acct

Total receipts $3,600,000
Total disbursements $1,634,000
Balance remaining $1,966,000

A summary of the transactions in relation Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare's Singapore account.

Foreign Investment Cheque and Savings Account:
17/10/10 deposit $280,000
17/19/10 cash withdrawal ($250,000)
02/09/10 deposit $280,000
02/09/10 cash withdrawal ($125,000)
02/09/10 transfer general acct ($125,000)

Total deposits $784,000
Total cash withdrawal ($625,000)
Balance of funds remaining in acct $159,000

Note: the source of the details in relation to Somare's bank transactions were from copiers of purported bank statement posted online by a paid publicist of O'Neill Government. The documents are yet to be independently validated. Singapore Prosecution made no reference to copies of Somare's bank statements during the court proceedings other than confirm the deposit of funds (US$784,000) that originated from Questzone Offshore Ltd and made into his account.

Now sometime between November 2010 and early 2011 members of Singapore Fraud and Anti-corruption agency formally known as Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) initiated investigations into the matter. They have yet to disclose whether they were acting on a formal complaint lodged with their office or notified by banking system following large cash withdrawals from Somare's account.

Following their investigations CPIB believed that Doehrman, Wah and Stephen Li conspired to defraud ZTE Corporation of $3.6 million and further aided and abetted in the unlawful transfer of criminal proceeds (money laundering) to their benefit as well as Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his son Michael Somare Jnr.

On 15 March 2011 CPIB picked up Lim Wah for questioning in relation to allegations over the fraud and money laundering offences related to the payment of $3.6 million by ZTE Corporation.

Doehrman and Stephen were also picked up for interview on 16th & 17th March 2011 respectively. Lim Wah was subjected to a further interview on 18th March 2011.

In the interest of avoiding publishing long winded articles I will keep my posts to around 1,000+ words.

In Part 3, I will discuss the statements submitted by Doehrman and Wah during the course of police interviews which the Prosecution relied on to secure their convictions. We will also discuss how they tried to change their position in an effort to have the charges dismissed on technical grounds as well as the culpability (criminal liability) if any against Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his son Michael Somare Jnr.

It's important to note this story has so many twists and turns involving so many parties trying to unravel it all and explain it in layman terms does take some time. We will also revisit Susan Merrell's publication on the issue and confirm it be malicious, grossly over opinionated and incompetent reporting of the facts.

Photo: Doehrman and Sheppard meeting with Fr./Dr. Xavier Alphonse and ZTE officials in Singapore in 2012.

Note: There are seven (7) parts to this articles: 

Part One: Singapore Supreme Court sentenced former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust American Thomas Doehrman (Doorman) and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah to prison for 5 years 10 months and 5 years respectively after finding them guilty of conspiring with Chinese national Li Weiming to defraud US$3.6 million (K11.6 million) from the ZTE corporation - a Chinese company that is a global supplier of information, technology and telecommunications equipment that was awarded $35 million contract by the PNG Community College Trust.

It explains what is PNG Community College????   

  Part Two: Provides insights into the decision by Singapore Supreme Court to convict (find guilty) and imprison former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust Thomas Doehrman and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah over fraud and money laundering offences.

It reveals how the deal was done to award the contract.?????? 

Part Three: A discussion on the extracts from the statements submitted by Doehrman and his wife, Lim during the course of the first police interviews which the Prosecution relied during the trial to secure their conviction's.

It shows what was done behind the closed doors????

A female PNG Unitech second year business student was found dead hanging on a tree: Could this be mere suicide or a planned murder?

by JOE SALAMBI

IF you are offended by this photo of tragedy of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) second year business student loss of life, go hide your head in the sand and run away from the problem. It happened one way or the other because of gross government and administrative incompetence. A disgusting story is coming to light despite efforts to hide the details from the public. The worst smells come from government lies and pressure on university administrators to do what they have now proven incapable of doing. The police on state of emergency (SOE) presence are beginning to show their usual unprofessionalism.

The incident occurred close to campus but outside university boundaries. Maybe that lets the new Higher Education Minister Francis Marus to escape his pledge and guarantee to the students of their safety if they returned to all university campuses.

Obviously this is either murder or is suicide. Obviously if it is suicide it is because of stress of one sort or another. Maybe a romantic dispute but whatever was the cause one does not have to look far to find out about all the stresses affecting Unitech students at the moment.

Not having a proper mess was the start of the student stress, there is not enough seating for the students so they eat here, there everywhere. The initial reconciliation between Engan and SHP students was reported to gone well and that helped with stress level. What has not gone well is on the academic side.

Teachers pushing students to remember what they last had studied from February to April in early September, then after 2 weeks of Semester 1, leaving it unfinished and beginning Semester 2 instruction. UPNG is doing the same or similar but who came up with this crazy idea? Forgetting about Semester 1, pushing the students to absorb an entire month of Semester 2 instruction, then dropping Semester 2 instruction and giving Semester 1 final exams.

Expecting students brains to fast forward then flip backwards then fast forward again when Semester 1 finals completed, only 1 week break, then returning back again to Semester 2 to start Week 5. A crazier scheduling would be hard to design unless the goal was to totally confuse students make there heads spin and replace guarantee of safety by a guarantee that students would remember next to nothing of this recovered 2016 school year.

Back around the end of April are when students were already abandoning class before the boycott officially started. This means there was an additional lost week the administration has never admitted do and pretends was normal. The truth: eliminate Week 10 of Semester 1 as an instruction week. Add another lost week called Week 11 of Semester 1 when boycotts began. In total students could not have had more than 9 weeks of instruction for Semester 1. Let it go on record that students attending Unitech in the 2016 school year had at best only 9 weeks of instruction before they were all sent home.

Semester 1 was supposed to be 15 weeks to give decent education. It was cut back and back to serve political interests and throw academic quality into the rubbish bin at both Unitech and UPNG. Semester 1 is only 9 weeks of instruction and 2 weeks of review, not the intended 14 weeks of instruction and 1 week of review.

Semester 2 has also been cut from 15 weeks to weeks of instruction and 1 week of review weeks which then has been screwed up inserting Semester 1 finals after Week 4 of Semester 2. Teachers from Unitech have spoken out that they were told to make up the rest of the lost teaching with after hours and weekend teaching.

A teacher rebellion is in progress at Unitech below the radar screen but no one is teaching these extra hours and the students have enough headaches without going to class every night and all weekend to get 5 more weeks of instruction pushed into their heads. The Academic board of Unitech should be investigated immediately and thoroughly to determine why they approved totally unacceptable compromises in length of semester and the schedule itself and now are pushing the students to the limits of their tolerance by saying classes should be on weekends and nights. The academic schedule they approved was unconscionable against the standards they are supposed to be uphold.

Administration turned deaf ears to the stressed students pleas to be given some relief from all this. Is it the students fault that they were willing experiments in Isaac Lupari’s plan to salvage Peter O’Neil’s reputation in the eyes of parents by getting the students back to school?

The students are there because the government and their parents pushed them to come back by threats of scholarship loss, having to come up with an extra year school fees and similar. Government, students, administration and teachers all of whom should be grownups with experience and know better instead pushed in place a ridiculous schedule that could not help but achieve very poor academic results. The only thing the schedule would have achieved was to make our Prime Minister look good for saving the day even though he is the one more responsible for mishandling the entire boycott issue, spreading to 4 PNG university campuses at one point. Yet we all can take note that the Prime Minister never once went to the media and guaranteed students safety if returning to campus.

Whoever took the lead and made the strongest pressure to get students back to class this year at either UPNG or Unitech must bear full responsibility for the mess being created.

Back to the deceased student. Did the student tie the rope herself, it looks quite hard to make that kind of knot and get up so high. Will police be competent enough to take fingerprints on the rope and elsewhere and such or will they spoil all the evidence because too little attention to their police work and too much attention to duty allowances. Also there is likely to be immediate political pressure on the police if there is any indication they might have determined this to be murder. No one will want to call it a murder even if it is a murder because we all know that murder could mean the end of the school year at Unitech. 

Who will be the watchdog to make sure there is no cover up because it is in the best interest of the Unitech administration to call it a suicide so they can save the school year. It is in the Prime Minister's and Chief Secretary's best interest to call it suicide. Who is going to believe anything these people say about the death, none of them have any credibility because they already show that they serve the master known as the Prime Minister. The government made the university issue this year into a political one.

Students are already in rebellion over the 10pm curfew and it is breaking down fast. The administration says there should be night classes and weekend classes and students have to study all this material and go back and forth to find a wireless place to use the internet that they say are pushing them to be outside late. The rebellion has already taken power away from the administration. Students have told the police to stay out of the dormitory and school building area and just patrol around the fences or well away from where the students are.

During the day mobile squad police sit at tables under umbrellas drinking tea and talking, very little patrolling. Yet they started getting angry at no duty allowances being paid as promised which the government is totally to blame for.

Unitech and UPNG administrators should be reporting to the newspapers daily how much money they have been given but have become meek as lambs and not saying anything. Report is that the government has not paid anywhere near the K40 promised to get the school year back to normal for Unitech with UPNG in a similar situation. Seems that only K1 million was paid to Unitech out of K40 million. The government is not keeping its promises to anyone neither the police or anyone else.

Sure the students are getting stressed out over this and other matters because they are nothing more than pawns in a political game and no one cares if they learn anything or not. All eyes are on making sure the faked 2016 school year can be completed on paper for the sake of the Prime Minister and his reputation.

Recently phone texts started going around between students revealing names of other students who had turned in the Engan students arrested for murdering the SHP student Romanong. How did this information leak out of the security office now it creates serious security concerns for the students whose names are being passed around. Administration said that the text messages had been turned over to police but everyone knows that finding the source of the messages is next to impossible and misses the point. The point is that the names leaked and it turns out they were not involved at all in the arrests of the Engans but were the ones who shared what they saw at a student forum when an Engan student was slashed.

The administration sent out a notice to students that no one should believe what is on social media or texts about what is going on at campus. This is typical escapism from reality the moment administration says that all students rush to their phones and get on social media to see what was said.

Alcohol is being smuggled in again and everyone but security and administration seems to know how its done. Student drops a bag either between Telikom and back gate, or on the road called the speedway. They push the bag under the unitech fence, then walk off. A second student waiting inside the campus then goes and retrieves the bag of home brew and walks off. Home brew is being hid all around campus including an area the students call agriculture farm and where there are lots of trees.

These are many incidents and descriptions that tell the same story of a campus security going slack in many directions. Students say that anyone can stand at uni-gate and watch for themself how irregular vehicle inspection is. University staff are let to come into campus without vehicle inspection. Why is this allowed when it is well known that staff take ethnic sides as much as students and staff can easily be bring in guns or bush knives attached to the underside of their vehicles or hidden behind the seats. No one would believe these stories if the inspections were done properly. Students are seeing themselves the slack inspections or no inspections of vehicles.

In response to this building mess, administration has alerted students to be aware there will be an inspection of their dorm rooms shortly to look for weapons, alcohol and any other illegal material. What is the point to tell them ahead of time so they can temporarily hide anything so they don’t want to be caught with them. After the inspection it goes back to business as usual. Students expecting to fail their courses in the upcoming exams are the ones starting to fall apart with the home brew and drugs.

The poor Unitech business student died because of some kind of stress. She is the symbol of the undeniable stress that are affecting all students at the moment because of everything being pushed at them and the crazy schedule that is guaranteed to make sure they remember next to nothing of all the subjects taken in 2016.

The Prime Minister and his government must be held accountable for creating this mess of a school year on the university campuses by their gross incompetence. They need to stop promising K40 million and only delivering K1 million. All parents and relatives of UPNG and Unitech students should demand now that the government pay all the promised money upfront and no further delay. They always seem to find millions to pay for political actions so come up with K39 million next week and pay it to unitech and relieve the stress.

The second demand is for the academic schedule and do-ability for 2016 to be brought to the table immediately, the inability of security to prevent further deaths on campus be admitted up front by the administration and the government. The academic board must be held fully accountable for approving a ridiculous schedule which has no potential to achieve anything satisfactory in the students studies. The academic board must be removed from whatever situation made it an pawn of political interests. Academics outside PNG should make the decision to continue or modify or cancel the school year as there is no one in PNG who will not be put under pressure by the Prime Minister to do the wrong thing.

The deceased student is a symbol of a politically inspired and pressured resumption of a school year that is going amuck. Let this student’s death not be ignored or brushed aside as irrelevant to the big mess going on right now at UPNG and unitech.

Source: PNG Blog

Oro treasury office vandalised as corrupt try to cover tracks

by KEITH JACKSON

HARD on the heels of action by Oro governor Gary Juffa to crack down on corrupt practices, the provincial treasury (pictured) was broken into again last week in what is believed to be retaliation for efforts to clean out crooked elements in the Oro public service.

Governor Juffa said the most recent crime was unusual because the office contained no cash or valuables. But there was much information included in the files that might lead to fraudulent activity being identified.

He said it was suspicious that the break-in occurred soon after the new provincial treasurer had tightened processes and had demanded accountability and that proper procedures be followed.

It seemed to indicate that certain people in Oro were “hell bent on covering their tracks”, he told Loop PNG, adding that this would not deter the work his office was undertaking in conjunction with the police.

Juffa said his continued efforts to address corruption in Oro had uncovered what appeared to be a syndicate of individuals - including administration, treasury and bank staff – who were collaborating with criminals to defraud the province and the people of funds.

He said the investigations so far had “revealed some interesting names”.

“For too long Oro has been in the grips of criminals who have found ways to bypass processes, procedures and checks to steal public funds.

“The result has been a province that has stagnated in the past 40 years,” Juffa said.

“These were actions by well-educated and trusted officers who have been placed there to serve as public servants.

“There will be no hiding as we are ready to reveal all.

“The thieves and criminals are not those on the streets with guns but those in offices with folders and fraudulent documents.

“We have a new treasurer and provincial police commander and we will get to the bottom of this,” Juffa said.

Hon. Garry Jufa handng over the key's of four (4) new police vehicles to the ORO provincial police commander.

Oro Provincial Treasury Office that was broken into.

Source: Keith Jackson and Friends - PNG Attitude

A post-analysis of Singapore deal: Papua New Guinea Community College Trust Scandal - Part 1

by BRYAN KRAMER

ON 1st September 2016 Singapore Supreme Court sentenced former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust American Thomas Doehrman (Doorman) and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah to prison for 5 years 10 months and 5 years respectively after finding them guilty of conspiring with Chinese national Li Weiming to defraud US$3.6 million (K11.6 million) from the ZTE corporation - a Chinese company that is a global supplier of information, technology and telecommunications equipment that was awarded $35 million contract by the PNG Community College Trust.

Doehrman and his wife were also found guilty of five counts of aiding and abetting (assisting) in the conspiracy (secret plan) to launder criminal proceeds portions of the $3.6 million - two payments totaling $950,000 to Li Weiming's wife and three payments totaling US$784,000 to Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare's personal Singapore bank accounts.

Weinming was ZTE's company representative for the South Pacific Region based out of their Singapore office.

US$3.6 million was paid as a secret commission to a offshore company owned by Doehrman's wife following the awarding of US$35 million contract to ZTE Corporation in June 2010.

When news of the Court ruling went viral a keen supporter of Peter O'Neill made the following cynical comment on a social media post on the Supreme Court ruling.

"Will Kramer write one of his long winded, 7-part series sub-thesis in light of the most recent decision of the Supreme Court of Singapore re money laundering and blatant theft of public monies intended for community colleges in Papua New Guinea?"

To which I replied:

"Sure send me the judgement. I note your poor attempt of humour to ridicule my articles, I'm sure you being a student of law it would have dawned on you the audience of my long winded articles are ordinary PNGeans with limited academic background. Funny how its the lawyers including yourself who seem to be reading and learning from them."

"All matters and parties involved in corruption will always remain on the table with me, there will be no exceptions to the truth."

Now I understand the earlier comment was forthcoming on account I personally know the Somare family. Betha Somare and I attended same university, I also recruited Dulciana Somare-Brash to join Pangu Party as a strategic adviser on policy.

Thus I believe it is implied that my close association to the Somare's would somehow detract from my cause to expose and depose corruption.

Well without the benefit of the full judgement on the conviction I was able to piece together sufficient material in the public domain to provide a post analysis on the issue.

Before I delve into the issues surrounding the criminal convictions and allegations leveled against Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare I believe it's important to first cover some background information to the whole issue and bring to light some of the parties involved that seem to be left out of the picture.

So what is the PNG Community College Trust?

In November 2008 Somare Government passed an Act of Parliament called "Inclusive Education for National Development for Community Education Act 2008.

While it is a mouthful to pronounce it simply means a community based education system that is inclusive to all in the interest of National Development. An education system universally referred to as the Community College.

The concept (idea) was modeled on the community college system established in India and North America. Fr. Dr. Xavier Alphonse, PhD in English Literature was the architect behind the Community College education system in India he was engaged by Somare Government as a consultant to assist with establishing a similar system in PNG.

So what is Community College Education System?

It is an alternative education pathway intended for disadvantaged students who may have dropped out or been pushed out of ordinary schools by offering them training in practical life and work skills that would lead to gainful employment or becoming productive members of their communities. Unlike Vocational Technical Colleges the community college system is focused on competency and practical skills in up to 28 trades designed to the communities they operate in.

Example community colleges set up in urban centres would focus on providing skills based focused on employment while rural areas would be on skills appropriate to the needs of living in rural communities (agriculture, farming etc).

The Act or legislation was established by Somare Government to create a Trust that will work with the National Education guidelines to govern the community education system throughout PNG.

A Trust is a legal entity established by law where a second party(s) referred to as trustee(s) are given legal right to manage the assets or property of the Trust. Under the Act the Trust is "Inclusive Education for National Development for Community Education."

The Act (law) states the Trust in consultation with the National Education Board and Secretariat shall be the executive body of the community college education system in PNG. It shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members (trustees). They shall hold office for three years and eligible for reappointment.

Trustee(s) act like a Board of Directors who would normally be entrusted to act and make executive decisions in the interest of the shareholders. In this case the shareholder is the Trust created by an Act of Parliament and not a company thus there are no directors but trustee(s), there is no CEO but a secretariat charged with administrative or management role.

The Act (section 16) states that Department of Education shall fill the roles of Secretariat made up of the following positions: Director, Deputy Director, Research & Development Officer , Curriculum, Education and Standards Officer and Support Staff.

Section 18 of the Act (Fund of Trust) provides all moneys received by the Trust shall be paid into a fund and applied by the Trust to the performance of its functions.

Moneys of the Trust that are not immediately required by the Trust may be lodged on deposit with the Minister of Treasury or invested in any other manner approved of by the Minister.

The capital infrastructure cost to set up the colleges was to be funded partly by grants from PNG Government through annual budget allocations and partly from a loan from China tied to the purchase of pre-fabricated units (buildings etc) and installation of information and telecommunications equipment.

In 2009 Fr./Dr. Xavier Alphonse together with a eight member team from India conducted a number of workshops to lay the ground work for the establishment of the community college system in PNG.

Somare Government appointed three persons to be members of the Trust. Its Chairman American Thomas Doehrman (Doorman), Deputy Chairman, Michael Somare Jnr and lawyer Greg Sheppard. Sheppard's law firm Young & Williams was engaged to provide legal services to the trust and parked funds in his firms trust account account held under the name "Inclusive Education for National Development for Community Trust"

The members of the trust also registered a company ITE Ventures Ltd as a commercial entity to carryout the Trust's functions. All three members of trust are listed as its Directors and the Trust being the sole shareholder.

In the same year Somare Government committed K50 million from Annual National Budget with the plan to secure further funding from from Exim Bank of China to roll out first batch of 13 community colleges with the plan to eventually opening one in each of the 89 districts.

Exim Bank is an acronym or abbreviation for Export-Import Bank. They are Government owned banks or financial institutions which serve to promote exports of their country's goods and services by providing insurance cover or concessional loans. In other words in order to stimulate their economy creating jobs and bringing in foreign trade (currency) they will offer loans to foreign countries or multi-national corporations under special conditions being that the loaned funds be spent to purchase goods and services from companies in their country. US$19 Billion PNG LNG Project was funded by two Exim Banks of US and China .

This explains why Chinese company ZTE corporation was considered as the main contractor for the project and no other company outside of China.

So in June 2010 members of Community College Trust entered into negotiations with ZTE Corporation officials namely Li Weiming which led to awarding of US$35 million contract to the company to be the main contractor to establish a virtual university network encompassing 13 schools that would become part of an online educational programme connected to 89 community colleges across the country.

According to police statements obtained from Doehrman his wife was also included in these negotiations.

Following the awarding of the contract to a ZTE Somare Government entered into discussions with the Exim Bank of China to secure a concessional loan to fund the US$35 million project. In March 2011 Peter O'Neill who was then the Minister of Finance and Treasury led a government delegation which included the then Minister of Education James Marape to Beijing, China where the first commercial loan with the EXIM bank of China was signed.

US$35 million loan for the community college project for the Education Department and US$53 million loan for an Integrated Government Information System (IGIS) under the care of the Department of Information and Communication.

Part 2 of this article will discuss the findings of police investigations surrounding payment of the secret commission of $3.6 million that led to formal charges being laid against Doehrman, his wife and Li Weiming, their failed efforts to have the charges dismissed on technical grounds as well as the culpability (criminal liability) if any against Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his son Michael Somare Jnr.

Photo: Doehrman and Sheppard meeting with Fr./Dr. Xavier Alphonse and ZTE officials in Singapore in 2012.

Note: There are seven (7) parts to this articles: 

Part One: Singapore Supreme Court sentenced former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust American Thomas Doehrman (Doorman) and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah to prison for 5 years 10 months and 5 years respectively after finding them guilty of conspiring with Chinese national Li Weiming to defraud US$3.6 million (K11.6 million) from the ZTE corporation - a Chinese company that is a global supplier of information, technology and telecommunications equipment that was awarded $35 million contract by the PNG Community College Trust.

It explains what is PNG Community College????   

  Part Two: Provides insights into the decision by Singapore Supreme Court to convict (find guilty) and imprison former Chairman of PNG Community College Trust Thomas Doehrman and his Singapore wife Lim Ai Wah over fraud and money laundering offences.

It reveals how the deal was done to award the contract.?????? 

Part Three: A discussion on the extracts from the statements submitted by Doehrman and his wife, Lim during the course of the first police interviews which the Prosecution relied during the trial to secure their conviction's.

It shows what was actually done behind the closed doors????

Does Port Moresby has a City Development Master plan? Or is it build on a 'political scam' to suck funds out of the public funds?

by LUCAS KIAP

SOME of us we may be thinking that Port Moresby is changing under the leadership of Governor Powes Parkop. Compared to other Governors, he is actually doing something. That is something we all should thank him.

But despite some of the changes happening in Port Moresby, there are critical questions that needs to be asked and answered to understand the real meaning of developing a city.

Is Powes Parkop really developing Port Moresby?

The answer is NO. Just like the typical PNG politician, he is wasting time and limited resources, building a temporarily settlement and not a city with no long-term plans.

Most of us we don't understand the real meaning of how cities are planned and built around the world. So anything that we see politicians built is development; whether it's of high standard or low standard or whether it is built according to long-term plans or not.

I strongly recommend for us to Google and read more about how cities are planned and built around the world. We must read more and have more knowledge about cities around the world to make informed decisions about Port Moresby. Then we can appreciate the development happening in Port Moresby.

Let's read more about the reasons why people build cities? What are the requirements of building an effective, competitive, safe and modern city to enjoy and attract businesses and tourists?

You will be surprised that the current development is not driven by any city development master plans to achieve any real meaning while allowing room for future growth and expansion.

Port Moresby is a dusty settlement we call our Capital City littered with substandard buildings, streets that are not safe for people to walk, no amenities for public to enjoy, and an ineffective and overcrowded transport system not fit for a city.

Port Moresby is a major scam used by the government to suck more money out of the public coffers. All political cronies are also sucking on the side by building makeshifts and temporarily sheds that has no significance in the meaning of a real city development but anything that can be justifiable enough to suck more public funds.

For the city to be effective, cometative among other cities in the region, safe and convenient; to attract investments and tourists, it must be driven by a Master Plan addressing all key requirements of a city development.

It's important for Powes Parkop to show us the Master Plan for Port Moresby and how he is addressing all key elements of a city development.

If he can't then I am sorry but we are wasting time and limited resources with him building a settlement.

Street in Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Port Moresby

Is this a settlement or a growing capital city of about 8-million people?

"I have a dream - I don't want my dream to just die with me, it burns inside my heart," says young Papua New Guinean

by LUCAS KIAP

I KNOW we have a choice in 2017 to make PNG better and that choice is our power to make it really happen.

Some people may think that I have an intention to contest the elections because of my everyday devotion on the issues and challenges facing our beloved country.

Let me remind you that I have been writing about the issues affecting the country for the last 20 years since my young days at the University of Technology in 2001.

I know politics in PNG is all about the 'big boys’ money game – killing pigs, buying airfares for voters, giving cash at funerals, buying coffins, giving cash handouts, dancing and singing till day break, mounting speakers on Toyota Landcruiser, screaming through loudhailers, bribing voters with cash and lamp flaps, cheating and bribing election officials and police, etc.

The fact is I am not a millionaire. I don’t have my own car. I don’t even own a home. I am just a simple government worker earning a K7 fortnightly housing allowance and pay more than a quarter of my salary as income tax and on top of that I pay 10% GST.

But there is one thing I care about and willing to lay down my life for it. Even if it means to stand alone, I will. That is, I don’t want the future of our children remains in the hands of those who have denied ours, the future we deserve in our natural resources rich country.

I know our country is rich in natural resources and any dream can be possible. We can be better off like developed countries with similar living standards. Yet we are poor and beggars in our own rich country accepting poverty as our way for life.

If I am going to contest one of seats in PNG in this coming 2017 General elections, then I have only one reason and that is to make corruption become part of the history and not part of the future. This is the reason why I have been advocating my life for the silent majority for the last two decades.

My fellow brothers and sisters, I have been talking about change for the last 20 years of my life since my high school days during the 1990s. I have a passion that really burns in my heart. I am convinced that our people deserve better. And I don’t want to die without trying to show the people what we deserve in this country. I don’t want my dream of changing this country just die with me.

That’s why I have been educating our people about what we really deserve from our leaders and how countries are run to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the people.

I know there are guys with money, cars and wealth going to contest the elections. That’s what they have been doing for the last 40 years; throwing our future out of their toilet window, treating our votes merely as a commodity that can be traded with cash and kind. Yet here we are after 40 years, still worse with no hope for a better life. We look upon those who rob our future and worship them like gods in a country; otherwise we all should enjoy similar living standards and quality of life like Hon. MPs and rich people.

I have no interests in politics or elections. That’s what people have been doing for the last 40 years. The same old stories. The same old lies. The same old faces.
But if I am going to contest the elections then I have only one reason and that is to live my dream of changing PNG like the way I see it.

My brother and sisters, I am really serious about changing the face of PNG if I have your power. I know people also want change and have been praying for change for the last 40 years. I don’t want them to die without seeing the answers to their prayers of what change looks like.

I don’t want our children to live in the same substandard lifestyle like us in a rich country, where we all deserve better. I don’t want our children to born into a hopeless country with fewer opportunities. I don’t want the opportunities of our children to be given away to foreigners.

My brothers and sisters, my dream is to change PNG one day like the way I talk about it every day of my life. I want to see our people and their well-being transformed from a poor third world country into modern country with higher living standards and quality of life like people in developed countries. I want to see our people are at the centre of all development efforts by the government to improve their living standards and quality of life. If I don’t achieve it, at least I want to try and lay the foundation to show the way forward for our sons and daughters to achieve my dream.

If I have to start somewhere, then I am going to start in Western Highlands because that’s where I come from.
My brothers and sisters, I am not asking you all to support nor believe me. But if there is something we all want it, something we all can stand together for, something worth fighting together for; then I can assure you all that it is safe to bet your hope in me for a better future because that’s what I have been dedicating my life for the last two decades.

Yes our future is what worth fighting for together. Let’s forget about our differences but let’s disagree to agree because at the end of the day, our future is what worth standing together for.Yes we can change PNG. That’s what we are going to do in the 2017 elections – we are going to change PNG.

Thank you all for your support, dedication and commitment to believe in change and willing to make change happen.

The O'Neill-Dion Government delivered major infrastructural services, notably building Mt. Hagen as the business center for the highlands region

by MICHEAL IPA 

THE Somare government was running or surplus budget for 10 years with a K10 billion each year. That is a total of K100 billion. Don Polye was the deputy prime minister at the time. What happened to all those money? Where did they spend it.

In 2013, the O'Neill government passed a record budget of K15 billion for the year 2014 because of the need for the Pacific Games infrastructure. The decision to bring the Pacific Games here in PNG was the decision of the then Somare government. They didn't do anything about it. The O'Neill government was forced to carry on that responsibility.

Some of you might be disagreeing with the sporting infrastructures but there is a thing called "Sports Tourism". I have seen more international events played in PNG compared to previous years and this is a testament of the improvement in our sporting facilities. I believe that we will see many future internal events like the Rugby league world cup in 2017 where PNG Kumuls will be playing all his games in Pool C at home soil against Europe and USA. It will generate revenue for the government and the people of PNG.

A lot of people have been complaining about development only happening in Port Moresby, I think you certainly failed to realize the bigger picture. It is necessary and priority. You will understand what I am talking about if you understand the bigger picture.

I will give you examples of development happening in Mt. Hagen.
1. Kapal House
2. Mt. Hagen International Airport
3. Togoba Junction to Kagul Road Sealing
4. The recently approved 4 lane highway from Togoba to Kagamuga Airport.

We must also understand that the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government sets out the financial and functional powers of each level of government. Get yourself educated and read on the responsibility of each of the government levels. For example, It's not the responsibility of the National Government to build feeder roads into your little village or provide water supply for you. Read and find out whose responsibility is that.

In addition to that, in Western Highlands Province alone, each district is being directly getting K10,000.00 every year for the last 15 years since the time of Somare government, if you haven't seen change, ask your Local MP. The Provincial Government has been receiving PSIP, K5 million per district, meaning if WHP has 4 districts, that's K20 million of development grant per year. Ask your Provincial MPs where they're putting them.

Let's not blame everything on PM O'Neill. He is by far, the best working PM this country has ever seen since independence.

He got the loans to build these infrastructures because these are the necessary infrastructures to support the economy of this country. Yes, I can also admit that some of the cost of the infrastructures have unbelievable costs and that's something that the government must engage 3rd party consultants to vet and quantity those costing.

But nevertheless, if you want change, you have got to do something that you have never done before. Even if it means it will hurt.

We will only complain if the Government has raised the GST. To date, they haven't, which means you have been paying for the same tax you have been paying for the last 20 years so stop hallucinating that all over sudden you will be under some sort of stress. NO! You will be fine. You will still get the same pay you worked for, you will still pay the same 10% GST you have been paying for.

When we recover from this recession because of the drop in mineral and petroleum prices, when people like Peter O'Neill as PM, we will see unprecedented changes. Ask Don Polye, name one bridge he built when he was Works Minister and Deputy PM?

None of the other PMs have done it. Peter O'Neill has been the "Infrastructural PM".

Great job, well done. Social media maybe against your decisions, they will never hold this country to ransom. The 85 MPs who have been voted in by their people have confidence in you, the people of PNG are seeing changes, and they are happy for you.

Let history be the judge. Keep your heads down an plow away. Only when we look back, we will judge from then. For now, rest assured, we trust you. Same speed, same speed.