A Papua New Guinea MP John Simon has been cleared of misconduct allegations made against him by the Papua New Guinea Ombudsman Commission.
Photo: ikiryo/123RF
The National reports the MP for Maprik, once cleared, immediately cast aspersions on the integrity of some government agencies, saying the only one that could be trusted was the judiciary.
He said he found it difficult to trust agencies like the Ombudsman Commission, police or public prosecutor.
The Leadership Tribunal upheld a no-case-to-answer submission filed by Mr Simon.
The MP submitted the issue was not whether he should be convicted but whether he should be convicted on the evidence provided by the Ombudsman Commission.
The tribunal ruled there were no prima facie cases on nine allegations.
It said the investigation showed a failure to collect evidence because people did not want to co-operate.
The main allegations were that nearly $US450,00 from a district fund was paid to Mr Simon's hire car and construction companies without following proper tender processes.