Registry staffer sacked

 By SHIRLYN BELDEN 

ONE senior officer has been sacked while more than 15 are under investigation over alleged corrupt practices in the Civil Registry office.

Registrar-General Augustus Wa­gam­bio yesterday confirmed that the officers had been involved in falsifying civil registration information such as birth certificates for cash.

Wagambio said in Port Moresby many of his officers had even forged his signature on birth certificates and were charging people who wanted them. 

He said so far he had sacked a senior officer, while 15 to 20 others were under investigation and could face suspension or the sack.

He said he was clamping down on corruption in the registry as directed by the Government.

“I will dismantle corruption in the office and have started by pulling out the root cause,” he said. 

“Any officer found cheating Papua New Guineans are on the line to walk out. The civil registry is keen to start afresh. I am putting down my foot and getting rid of corrupt personnel. The officers sneak out registration information and sell it to the public for extra cash. That is wrong. I have terminated one already and am investigating 15 to 20.”

He said he wanted the illegal practice stopped.