PNG Prime Minister marape Calls Yafai Conviction a Strong Message Against Misuse of Funds

PNG Prime Minister Calls Yafai Conviction a Strong Message Against Misuse of Funds

​Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has described the conviction of former Deputy Finance Secretary Jacob Yafai as a powerful statement that the government will not tolerate corruption. Yafai was sentenced to 22 years in prison for misappropriating K41.8 million, and Marape said this case now gives authorities a clear mandate to recover all stolen public funds.

“The police have my full support to trace the money trail,” Marape said, urging them to begin with the Finance Department. “Where genuine work was done, payments will be justified; where no work was done, arrests must follow.”

He said the conviction must signal the beginning of broader investigations into questionable government payments. “We’ve had enough inquiries—now it’s time to act. Use those reports, set up a dedicated team, and bring results,” the Prime Minister said, noting the inclusion of international expertise in the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Marape said the RPNGC’s Asset Restraint and Recovery Working Group (ARROW), alongside FASU and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, must move quickly to identify and recover public funds. “We must make a full recovery of stolen money. Corrupt funds always leave a trail,” he added.

He cautioned that waiting too long risks losing crucial data, calling on the Police Force to establish a permanent financial crimes unit to track how public money is used.

Marape said as PNG reaches 50 years of independence, the greatest contribution public servants can make is to uphold integrity and use government funds properly. “Serve honestly and follow the law—that alone builds a strong nation,” he said.

Reiterating his government’s firm stance on accountability, Marape said Yafai’s sentence sends a message to all public office holders. “No one is above the law. Corruption has no place in our government,” he said.

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