The Bougainville minister for administrative services, Robert Sawa, says about ten staff are facing charges after the discovery of apparent corruption in the public service.
An audit had found dozens of fictitious names on the payroll, that had been costing the Papua New Guinea autonomous region about $US207,000 dollars each fortnight.
Arawa, Bougainville Photo: RNZI
New Dawn FM reports Mr Sawa has also revealed senior managers and staff working for the government stole another $US107,000.
He said nine to ten officers in the Department of Personnel Management and Administrative Services have now been charged under the Bougainville Public Service Act.
The minister also said he is insisting these individuals be referred to the National Fraud Squad.
Robert Sawa said nobody in Bougainville is above the law and those found guilty must face the toughest of punishments.