CMO steps aside

By REBECCA KUKU
A CRIMINAL investigation into the Australian-funded refugee programme in Papua New Guinea was given more room yesterday following the stepping aside of chief migration officer Stanis Hulahau.
Hulahau told The National he had done so to allow consultancy firm KPMG to carry out a full forensic audit (investigation) into allegations that a suspected drug-peddling Australian businesswoman had links to companies in the humanitarian programme.
The suspect, Mei Lin, was arrested in Australia by the federal police last week.
Hulahau, who has been the chief officer for the past three years, said he also made the call following allegations laid against the Immigration and Citizenship Authority.
When asked to confirm these developments yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, who is also minister responsible for immigration matters, said: “We will release an official statement tomorrow (today, Feb 1).
The alleged syphoning of refugee funds, drug trafficking and smuggling came to light when ABC News revealed last Sunday that the Chinese-PNG woman Mei Lin had been arrested and charged over an alleged A$15 million (about K37.06 million) drug importation attempt last year.
Last year, reports claimed that Lin had a role in a “black flight” incident involving 71.5kg of methamphetamine from Bulolo in PNG to Central Queensland.
Australian police claimed the suspect, who was said to have Australian residency, had links to companies receiving funding from the PNG-Australia refugee programme.
Last year, a whistle blower from within the Immigration and Citizenship office, alleged widespread corruption, fraud and nepotism into the management of Australian taxpayers’ money earmarked for the upkeep of refugees.
Rosso, the Lae MP, responded with the assurance of an audit into the programme.
Lin was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime, money, or property worth A$10,000 (about K24,700) or more.
She was alleged to be well connected to 15 businesses in Port Moresby and Lae, and owns a company registered as Humanitarian Ltd with connections to the PNG humanitarian programme.
Hulahau said the KPMG audit and investigations would clear the allegations against the PNGICSA and himself.
Lin was denied bail and is to reappear in the Australian courts on March 1.