PNG MPs guilty of misconduct may lose seats

10:51 am on 29 April 2015

It's not yet known whether two MPs in Papua New Guinea found guilty of misconduct in office by leadership tribunals will lose their seats.

The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Boka Kondra, who is North Fly MP, was found guilty of misappropriation of district funds to the tune of over 72-thousand US dollars.

PNG's Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and North Fly MP, Boka Kondra

Boka Kondra [image:38206:third] Photo: PNG Parliament website

In the second tribunal hearing, Manus Open MP Ronny Knight was found guilty of corruption, also related to the misuse of public funds.

Our correspondent Todagia Kelola says the MPs must wait to see what penalty is imposed by the tribunals who have the power to dismiss them from office.

"The penalty is yet to be handed down. The submissions that are on Ronny Knight's case where the public prosecutor prosecuted Ronny Knight, is that the state wants the maximum penalty of dismissal from office."

The leadership tribunal recommended Boka Kondra be criminally prosecuted.

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