PNG minister denies links to criminal

Firmin Nanol, Port Moresby

Last Updated: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 16:38:00 +1000

Papua New Guinea's Corrective Services Minister has denied any connections to the country's most infamous criminal.

Early this month, while pleading guilty to robbing a gold refinery, William Kapris claimed in the National Court that three politicians shared in the loot.

He named them as the recently suspended Treasurer, Patrick Pruaitch; the Correctional Services Minister, Tony Aimo; and the deputy speaker, Francis Marus.

Mr Aimo has now gone public in denying any involvement.

He says he has been under extreme stress and is very concerned about the convicted prisoner's claims.

"Unnecessary, malicious and unfounded reports which I would say are a pack of lies, and I will not indulge in a media debate with a common criminal.''

Last week, Mr Pruaitch denied any involvement.

PNG's National Court will sentence Kapris on Wednesday over the gold refinery robbery.

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