Tiensten apologises in court

 JAILED Pomio MP Paul Tiensten had apologised in court to the people of Pomio, Papua New Guinea and his family for misappropriating K10 million of State funds.
Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika said Tiensten had handed a copy of a prepared statement to the court after his conviction.
Asking for leniency, Tiensten said he had a son, aged eight, and twin daughters aged four attending school.
He said he captained the national rugby team PNG Pukpuks in many international and domestic games.
He was first elected to Parliament as the Pomio MP in 2002 under the People’s Progress Party and appointed chairman of a special parliamentary committee to fast-track opportunities for gas and energy development in the country.
He first joined Cabinet minister in November 2003 as Trade and Industry Minister in the Somare government.
He was re-elected in 2007 and 2012  under the banners of the National Alliance Party and People’s United Party banners respectively.
“Since 2002 to now, I have tried my best to deliver tangible economic projects to Pomio district with funding secured from the Government and foreign governments targeting socio-economic sectors of the economy in the district and province as a whole,” he said.
Character references on Tiensten were provided by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Father Rudolf Palao, the dean of the Catholic Church in Pomio, and Opposition leader Belden Namah.
Sir Michael described Tiensten as diligent, decent, honest, trustworthy and a good family man.