The Acting Chief Migration Officer, Wellington Navasivu was arrested and charged yesterday at the Boroko Police Station in Port Moresby.
He was charged with one count each of:
- Unlawful detention,
- Attempt to pervert the course of justice and
- Abuse of office.
Just five months since taking office, Mr Navasivu is facing a possible 10-year sentence if he is found guilty by the court.
Speaking to Inside PNG following his bail, Mr Navasivu refused to comment on his arrest, assuring that his office will release a media statement regarding the arrest.
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Commander, Silva Sika, through his executive officer said he would release details of the arrest once he is briefed on the matter.
Mr Navasivu was appointed the Acting Chief Migration Officer when the former CMO, Stanis Hulahau resigned on the 30th of January 2024.
Stanis Hulahau resigned soon after Inside PNG and partners (Organized Crime and Corruption Project & ABC Australia) published an article revealing evidence of him receiving money from a Chinese business woman named Mei Lin, to allegedly facilitate passports for her husband to enter PNG.
Lin who allegedly entered PNG illegally, was arrested in Australia in January for smuggling Methamphetamine into the country via PNG.
An Immigrations Ministerial sanctioned investigation was authorized and carried out by KPMG into Hulahau’s involvement with Mei Lin.
Immigration Minister, John Rosso had announced during a media conference earlier this year that the findings of the investigation would be made public. .
It has been six months since that announcement with no details of the findings.