PNG Justice Minister Hits Back: “We Are Not a Corrupt Country”

Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Pila Niningi has defended the country’s integrity, saying recent court proceedings involving senior leaders show that PNG should not be labelled a corrupt nation.

 PNG Justice Chief Says Courts Prove Country Is Not Corrupt

Addressing criticism linked to PNG’s grey listing, Mr Niningi said the Government was working through seven required reforms identified by international assessors before the country could be removed from the list.

The concerns stem from a 2024 evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force’s Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, which highlighted weaknesses in PNG’s financial crime enforcement systems.

The review cited limited prosecutions for offences such as money laundering, tax evasion and gold smuggling, and raised questions about accountability within state agencies, leading to increased monitoring of PNG.

Mr Niningi said the report went too far by implying corruption was universal, including among lawmakers and the judiciary, a claim he strongly disputed.

He pointed to a case involving a former deputy finance secretary accused of misappropriating K41.8 million in public funds, where Prime Minister James Marape was required to give evidence in court.

“That is proof the judiciary is independent and working,” Niningi said.