Pacific

Retraction: Oro governor refutes bribery trial allegations as false

10:27 am on 20 March 2023

Governor Garry Juffa, centre, with a local Sing Sing group. Photo: Supplied

On the Monday 13 March 2023 RNZ Pacific published in its news briefs section a paragraph about the Papua New Guinean MP and Governor for Oro Province, Gary Juffa, being due to stand trial for allegations of bribery.

The story attributed to the National Newspaper was incorrect and misleading and RNZ Pacific has retracted it and encourages all content sharing partners to also remove the story from their platforms.

RNZ Pacific has a recorded statement from Gary Juffa in which he refutes the report and outlines the correct parameters of the case in question.

"I am not standing for trial for bribery. The election petition has gone to trial. In that election petition three persons, none of whom are obviously me, have been named as alleged to have committed acts of bribery to influence the outcome of the elections," Gary Juffa clarified.

"And they are alleged to be my agents. So that is what is being tried or that is what is going to trial."

Gary Juffa says he has spent 16 years in the public service and 10 years in politics and he has never bribed anyone.

"It is not something I do. And to have my name associated with that act or that crime is not something I appreciate."

RNZ Pacific em tok sori true lo Gary Juffa en ol lain blong em long displa issue.