Somare Cairns properties questioned
10 November 2008
PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his son Arthur have been asked to explain how they obtained a luxury inner-city unit and a new $685,000 beach house in Cairns. Documents have emerged linking the PNG leader and his powerbroker son to the real estate.
PNG's anti-corruption watchdog, Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta and former finance minister Bart Philemon said it had to be asked where the money had come from. Ombudsman Commission legal counsel Vergil Narokobi, one of the most senior officials with the anti-corruption watchdog, said the Commission would investigate.
"It is quite possible it is legitimate," Mr Narokobi said. “We will look to see if there were any breaches of the leadership code. To afford such luxuries it is not something ordinary Papua New Guineans can do. It is a situation of unfairness, but that is my own personal view. We have to give them the benefit of doubt. On the face of it we will respect our leaders until the contrary is shown."
Documents obtained by the Courier-Mail show Sir Michael obtained a $349,000 three-bedroom executive-style apartment with private plunge pool in inner-city Cairns in April last year, in a deal brokered by a Gold Coast lawyer. Two months ago, Arthur Somare, who is PNG's State Enterprise Minister and a political heavyweight, bought a $685,000 four-bedroom home with his wife at Trinity Beach.
Mr Somare, who plans to move his family to Australia to live, has just sealed a $US20 billion deal over access to PNG's liquid natural gas reserves with a consortium from the Middle East. Cairns builder Michael Case, who sold the house to Mr Somare in August, said: "He is a fabulous guy, everything was done above board."
Sir Michael, who was in Cairns last week for a historic address to Queensland Parliament, declined a request for an interview and did not respond to a series of written questions. His son Arthur also did not respond to questions about his new property
Sir Michael, who has refused to provide details of his overseas assets under the leadership code since 1992, is fighting a Supreme Court action against the Ombudsman Commission.
Opposition Leader Morauta said the Somare family owed it to the PNG people to reveal their assets. "They should both publicly explain how they obtained this real estate," said Sir Mekere, who this year bought a $3.6 million riverfront mansion at New Farm in Brisbane's inner city under his wife Roslyn's name.-
Former finance minister and anti-graft campaigner Mr Philemon said, “They have got to tell people in PNG how they funded those properties, otherwise it smells like corruption.”
Source: ‘PNG leader Michael Somare and son asked to explain Cairns property’, by Peter Michael, Courier-Mail, 5 November 2008
Readers will notice the considerable difference between the article cited by Mr Curtis and his statement that “if the worst comes up and Sir Michael is charged over Corruption, dont worry he wont be lonely, at least Arthur will be with him”.
As the Ombudsman Commission’s legal counsel Vergil Narokobi said: “On the face of it we will respect our leaders until the contrary is shown."
The contrary has not been shown and, unless and until it is, Mr Curtis’ remarks remain on the record as nothing more than gossip.
Incidentally, Mr Curtis’ claim that his comment on PNG ATTITUDE was censored is not true.
Posted by: Keith Jackson | 24 February 2009 at 09:14 AM
23 PM in PNG News | Permalink | CommeSomare Cairns properties questioned 10/11/2008.
PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his son Arthur have been asked to explain how they obtained a luxury inner-city unit and a new $685,000 beach house in Cairns. Documents have emerged linking the PNG leader and his powerbroker son to the real estate.
PNG's anti-corruption watchdog, Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta and former finance minister Bart Philemon said it had to be asked where the money had come from. Ombudsman Commission legal counsel Vergil Narokobi, one of the most senior officials with the anti-corruption watchdog, said the Commission would investigate.
"It is quite possible it is legitimate," Mr Narokobi said. “We will look to see if there were any breaches of the leadership code. To afford such luxuries it is not something ordinary Papua New Guineans can do. It is a situation of unfairness, but that is my own personal view. We have to give them the benefit of doubt. On the face of it we will respect our leaders until the contrary is shown."
Documents obtained by the Courier-Mail show Sir Michael obtained a $349,000 three-bedroom executive-style apartment with private plunge pool in inner-city Cairns in April last year, in a deal brokered by a Gold Coast lawyer. Two months ago, Arthur Somare, who is PNG's State Enterprise Minister and a political heavyweight, bought a $685,000 four-bedroom home with his wife at Trinity Beach.
Mr Somare, who plans to move his family to Australia to live, has just sealed a $US20 billion deal over access to PNG's liquid natural gas reserves with a consortium from the Middle East. Cairns builder Michael Case, who sold the house to Mr Somare in August, said: "He is a fabulous guy, everything was done above board."
Sir Michael, who was in Cairns last week for a historic address to Queensland Parliament, declined a request for an interview and did not respond to a series of written questions. His son Arthur also did not respond to questions about his new property
Sir Michael, who has refused to provide details of his overseas assets under the leadership code since 1992, is fighting a Supreme Court action against the Ombudsman Commission.
Opposition Leader Morauta said the Somare family owed it to the PNG people to reveal their assets. "They should both publicly explain how they obtained this real estate," said Sir Mekere, who this year bought a $3.6 million riverfront mansion at New Farm in Brisbane's inner city under his wife Roslyn's name.-
Former finance minister and anti-graft campaigner Mr Philemon said, “They have got to tell people in PNG how they funded those properties, otherwise it smells like corruption.”
Source: ‘PNG leader Michael Somare and son asked to explain Cairns property’, by Peter Michael, Courier-Mail, 5 November 2008
My comments refer: Will you censor this as well? Regards.
Posted by: Bob Curtis | 24 February 2009 at 08:24 AM