The chief internal auditor of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville has reportedly been suspended for two weeks for misconduct.
Photo: manganganath/123RF
The National newspaper reported Peter Siperau had been suspended for authorising police fraud squad investigations without approval from Bougainville's cabinet.
Bougainville's acting chief secretary, Thomas Raivet, said Mr Siperau did not seek permission from the Executive Council to authorise police to investigate leaders and public servants.
He said Mr Siperau not only broke protocol, but his actions posed a threat to peace and stability as Bougainville neared November's referendum on independence from PNG.
In November, Bougainville's president, John Momis, said corruption was rampant in his region after he called in the fraud squad to investigate alleged fraud involving the autonomous government's payroll, along with the misappropriation of disaster funds.