11 Apr 2018

PNG man arrested for impersonating lands minister

10:28 am on 11 April 2018

A man has been arrested for impersonating Papua New Guinea's lands minister, Justin Tkatchenko.

Papua New Guinea Lands & Physical Planning Minister Justin Tkatchenko

Papua New Guinea Lands & Physical Planning Minister Justin Tkatchenko Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Michael Jack, who is a pastor from a Mt Hagen church, is alleged to have been evicting families from land under the pretence of obtaining it for church activities.

The Post Courier reported the director of the National Fraud Directorate, Matthew Damaru, saying Mr Jack scanned Mr Tkatchenko's signature onto documents using the Lands Department's letterheads.

Mr Jack is being held at a Port Moresby police station and will appear in court later today.