Conduct of 19 Members of Parliament including the Prime Minister in Seeking a Pardon for a Fugitive from Justice [1998] VUOM 1; 1998.01 (30 January 1998)

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

PUBLIC REPORT

ON THE

CONDUCT OF 19 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER OF
JUSTICE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, MINISTER OF TOURISM AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS, AND
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN SEEKING A PARDON FOR A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE

30 JANUARY 1998

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PREAMBLE

'A man void of understanding striketh hands and becometh surety in the presence of his friend ...'

Prov. 17 V 18.

For several years now, I have received complaints from business people about the length of time that their applications for residency and business license and consents to transfer land sit either on the desks of Ministers, heads of departments or other officials. They say they experience broken promises, obstructiveness and often suggestions of bribery, before the valuable document is signed and released.

For some, many weeks - often many months - go past until the applicant is discouraged and abandons his plans. Sometimes the applicant is bedevilled by a series of questions about his business and intentions from officials who obviously know virtually nothing about financing and running a business. In this way genuine 'bona fide' investors are turned away from Vanuatu.

However it now appears that no obstacles are placed in the path of smooth talkers and 'con-men' who dazzle the Ministers and their staff who are inexperienced in the ways of the world outside with promises and gifts. Jobs are promised to friends and family of the Ministers, and they see a bright future for themselves with crooked partners.

Requirements about depositing or investing the necessary funds to qualify for residency, or having no police record are simply overlooked in the case of smooth operators. This report is only one classic example of Ministerial ventures into capital expenditure and financial conjuring tricks rather than quietly and efficiently following criteria and guidelines that wiser and more experienced people have discovered essential.

It is not difficult to see who is exposing 'the nakedness' of Vanuatu and making us a laughing stock around the world. The Ombudsman’s Office does not sign ridiculous statements or accusations but instead takes the trouble to check out all facts.

The public will not have missed the fact that none of these blustering politicians have taken the simple course of questioning the facts of their offences in Courts. Instead creep about making insults against those who meticulously follow their duty, and record precisely what they find. While hundreds of protesting citizens are confronted by the weight of law, major figures potentially guilty of major fraud remain unarrested and unpunished. This selective action only serves to increase the disillusionment of the general public because it shows that there is one law for the big men and another for the grassroots. The complaints to the Ombudsman increase daily over this injustice and they cry 'how long, o Lord, how long?' to quote the Scriptures.

This is far from being the last report dealing with maladministration and often fraud and corruption. It remains to be seen what the 'official' reaction will be to deal with these many serious offences.

This report is concerned with the actions of 19 of our elected Leaders. 19 Leaders of this country who have sworn to honour this country have instead disgraced this country, both at home and internationally. 19 Leaders of this country sought to harbour a South Korean fugitive from justice. These 19 leaders went further than providing a mere safe haven for this fugitive, these 19 Leaders in writing sought a pardon from the President of South Korea for this Korean fugitive’s foreign crimes.

Why the 19 Leaders disgraced Vanuatu is unclear because only 2 of the 19 Leaders responded to our preliminary report. For one of the two who responded Mr Bangabiti the motivation was clear. Mr Bangabiti stated Mr Jung had financially helped the UMP and the Prime Minister and this is why 19 Leaders chose to disgrace Vanuatu. The other leader to reply was Fr Lini, Minister of Justice (NUP MP for Pentecost) and also Anglican priest. Fr Lini’s reply was most disturbing as he can no longer tell right from wrong. For the 17 other Leaders named in this report we have only heard silence.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Richard Jung (Jung Jae-Young) is a Korean with a criminal past:

(a) He was imprisoned in South Korea for 3 years for stealing military equipment;

(b) He has been convicted for breaching South Korean Control Law;

(c) Presently, there is a South Korean Warrant of Arrest, while Mr Jung remains residing in Vanuatu as a fugitive from justice wanted back in homeland for forgery.

1.2 Mr Jung attempted to become a Vanuatu citizen and has already been granted an illegal honorary citizenship by the present Prime Minister, Rialuth Serge Vohor (as presented in our public report dated 3 December 1997). Hie is also being supposedly appointed Vanuatu Trade Commissioner by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Vital Soksok, on instruction of the Prime Minister on 22 July 1997. He also holds an ordinary Vanuatu passport and a diplomatic passport issued to him illegally with the knowing help of Mr Vohor.

1.3 Instead of extraditing Mr Jung (sending him back to Korea as the Korean police want) 19 members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and 5 Ministers, would like to welcome this convicted criminal and fugitive into Vanuatu, and allow him to promote a residency and illegal citizenship scheme involving our country (see our report concerning Mr Jung dated 3 December 1997).

1.4 19 members of Parliament including the Prime Minister and 5 Ministers have issued letters dated 17th November 1997 to the President of South Korea asking South Korea to pardon Mr Jung and forgive Mr Jung for his crimes.