MINISTRY OF FINANCE ADDRESSES CIRCULATION OF FRAUDULENT PAYMENT LIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Denied this payment list by Finance Minister

MEDIA RELEASE

Approved for release by Minister for Finance and Transport, Hon. Miki Kaeok, MP

by Rex Kiponge,

First Secretary

Minister Finance

The Ministry of Finance wishes to address allegations surrounding a payment list purportedly sent from the Finance Ministry to the Treasury Department, which has been circulating on social media platforms.

Under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), it is crucial to clarify that neither the Minister for Finance nor the Ministry itself holds the authority to vet, certify invoices, or compile payment lists for claims submitted by service providers or the public. These responsibilities lie solely with the Department of Finance, which adheres to stringent protocols and verification procedures before authorizing any payments.

The authenticity of the circulating document is highly questionable. Notably, the signature attributed to the Minister for Finance does not match his official signature. This discrepancy, along with other irregularities, strongly indicates that the payment list is fraudulent.

Disturbingly, this fake document appears to be part of a deliberate campaign by certain individuals who have previously submitted similar fraudulent materials to the Ombudsman Commission. Their intent seems to be to damage the Minister’s political reputation and undermine his integrity in the eyes of the public.

The Minister has taken this matter seriously and has ordered a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for this misinformation campaign. Such actions not only mislead the public but also erode trust in our financial governance systems, which is detrimental to national development.

The Ministry urges the public to exercise caution and refrain from sharing unverified financial documents on social media. Disseminating false information regarding government financial matters may constitute an offense under existing regulations.

The integrity of our financial systems is paramount. The Ministry remains committed to supporting the Department of Finance in safeguarding public funds against fraud and misrepresentation. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we work to uphold trust in our financial institutions and processes.

God bless Papua New Guinea.