Senior public servants in Vanuatu have been given a nearly two week extension to submit their annual returns after more than two thirds of them failed to meet the initial deadline of the 1 March.
Ombudsman, Hamlison Bulu, said 196 had submitted their returns but 445 public sector leaders had not.
Vanuatu Ombudsman, Hamilson Bulu Photo: RNZ Pacific / Heather Maraki
He said if they did not submit their annual returns by 14 March their names would appear in the official gazette and then later in court.
Bulu said leaders would also be hit with a $US20,000 penalty if they didn't submit their returns on time with a further $185 added each day.
The Ombudsman appealed to all officials to respect the leadership code.
Leaders in provinces could submit their annual returns to the provincial headquarters.
This is the first year all annual returns must be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, after the law was changed last year.
Previously, since 1998 all annual returns had been submitted to the Clerk of Parliament.