Peter Yama

Peter Yama is a businessman and former Papua New Guinean politician. He was most recently the Member of Parliament for Usino Bundi between 1994–1997 and 2002-2007. In 2003 he succeeded Peter O’Neill as the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations under Prime Minister Michael Somare.[1] Prior to this, he was appointed Minister for Transport and Works in 1996.[2]

Yama is the head of Yama Security Services Ltd, which is a subsidiary of his Yama Group of companies. He has an extensive property portfolio and owns the Smugglers Inn hotel in Madang.[3]

Controversies

Yama was referred to the Public Prosecutor on July 1997 amid allegations of misconduct which included, “improper application and failure to acquit EDF and other public funds, conflict of interest, using his position to obtain private a [sic] bank loan and attempting to purchase 2 ships from the government below market price”.[4]

The matter was then referred to a Leadership Tribunal, which investigates alleged cases of misconduct by ministers and senior public officials, and which recommended the dismissal of Yama from his office in December 2004. This decision was ultimately overturned in February 2005 due to insufficient evidence on the majority of the counts. Yama was, however, fined K1000 for having been biased in his distribution of PGK1.6 million under the Rural Transport Development Program to his then Sumkar electorate.[5]

In 2002 Yama issued a complaint against the State for PGK38.7 million, alleging that he had been prevented access to a piece of land leased to him in 1988. Attorney General Zacchary Gelu awarded Yama a PGK15.5 million Deed of Settlement in compensation for lost earnings. However, in 2010 a government Commission of Inquiry found that Yama’s claim had been a fraudulent one, as it had failed to comply with mandatory procedural requirements and had been filed in respect of a plot of land that did not exist. The Commission referred Yama for criminal prosecution for making an unlawful claim and ordered that civil action be taken against Yama for unpaid land rentals to the effect of PGK61,015.[6]

In December 2009, Yama was awarded PGK7.6 million in a case against Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited for breach of contract. However, Bank of South Pacific (BSP) attempted to secure this money, claiming that Yama had outstanding debts. Yama denied that he had any existing debts with BSP and brought charges of fraud against the bank. Two Australian executives at BSP were subsequently arrested as a consequence of this action.[7]

The executives, Robin Fleming and John Maddison, were subsequently released on bail. Australian law firm Gadens Lawyers, which represented BSP in the court action against Yama, were forced to withdraw their involvement in the case following physical threats to their legal team by armed groups in Port Moresby.[8]

References

  1. ↑ The Economist Intelligence Unit (22 October 2003). "Papua New Guinea politics: Cabinet reshuffled". ViewsWire.
  2. ↑ Successful unionism in a difficult environment (2000). "Successful unionism in a difficult environment" (PDF). The University of the South Pacific.
  3. ↑ Namatanai Electorate (22 February 2010). "Yama threatens to sue newspaper". Sunday Chronicle.
  4. ↑ Fraud Management Studies Unit (2003). "TI Country Study Report" (PDF). National Integrity Systems.
  5. ↑ Post Courier (7 February 2005). "Yama cleared". Post Courier.
  6. ↑ PNG Exposed Blog (23 November 2011). http://pngexposed.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/yama-and-gelu.pdf "Yama and Gelu conspired to steal K15.5m from the people of PNG" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). PNG Exposed Blog.
  7. ↑ AAP (22 January 2010). "Aussie bankers arrested in PNG". WAtoday.
  8. ↑ Solomon Star (22 January 2010). "Law firm withdraws from PNG fraud case after threats". Solomon Star.
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