A high-profile Australian lawyer has been arrested in Papua New Guinea in relation to alleged theft of landowner development funds.
Greg Sheppard (centre) working as a lawyer in Port Moresby, representing PNG opposition leader Belden Namah
Photo: Loop PNG
Greg Sheppard of Young & Williams Lawyers was arrested yesterday in Port Moresby, interviewed and taken into custody, charged with two counts of conspiracy and another two count of false pretense.
PNG s police commissioner David Manning said the charges relate to alleged misappropriation of around $US74.5 million from a landowner development fund in Western Province.
The Western Province People s Dividends Community Mine Continuation Agreement Trust Funds are based on dividends from landowners 10 percent equity in the Ok Tedi hold and copper mine.