Mr. Hetinu was the Election Manager for the National Capital District (NCD) in 2017 when he committed the offense. He conspired with the Coordinator for the North-East District and a candidate to induce polling officers and voters with money to vote in favor of the candidate.  Upon a complaint by witnesses, the Police arrested Mr. Hetinu who was found to have in his possession monies totalling K184,300 and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).

The MoA revealed amongst others and confirmed that the monies were to be expanded to influence people’s votes in ensuring the win of Michael Kandiu a regional candidate. It further revealed that if the candidate won the election, Mr. Hetinu was to be awarded security contracts for the entire NCD for five years subject to renewal.

Justice Berrigan stated that the accused had occupied a public position of authority upon which his actions would reflect the trust and confidence of the people in the Office. Hence his actions were a gross breach of trust.

She further stated that the right to vote is a sacred responsibility enshrined in the Constitution and must be used freely and fairly without any form of influence as it will determine the future of the type of government that will govern the people.

Though there was no clear indication as to what part of the monies were to be distributed by Mr. Hetinu and his accomplices, the heart of the offense was that Mr. Hetinu corruptly received the monies whilst discharging his duties.

Mr. Hetinu was sentenced to seven years with light labor as a grim reminder to potential offenders and to restore confidence and trust in the electoral processes. 

The National Court sentenced Terence Hetinu 51 from the Eastern Highlanes to seven years with light labor for Official Corruption.

The National Judiciary Staff Services (NJSS) has donated a collection of legal publications to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), to strengthen the Commission’s legal resources and support its work in preventing, reducing and combatting corrupt conduct.

The publications were presented to ICAC today by National Judiciary Staff Services Librarian, Mr Johannes Fege, on behalf of the National Judiciary Staff Services Publications Committee. The collection was received by ICAC Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations, Retired Judge Ellenas Batari, in the presence of Acting Deputy Commissioner Prevention and Corporate Thomas Eluh, senior management and staff.

During the handover of the books, Mr Fege said the donation was part of the Judiciary’s ongoing efforts to support institutions by providing access to important legal reference materials.

The donated publications cover a range of legal areas relevant to the Commission’s work, including Supreme Court and National Court case notes from 2009 to 2018, the Constitution of Papua New Guinea (Revised 2025), Criminal Law and Practice of Papua New Guinea, human rights, national court proceedings, bail, criminal practice, constitutional law and elections, among others.

He said access to legal publications was important for strengthening legal knowledge, keeping practitioners informed of judicial decisions and supporting the effective application of the law.

Mr Fege expressed hope that the publications would be useful to ICAC lawyers in their work, particularly in legal research, case preparation and the application of relevant legal principles.

Receiving the publications, Acting Deputy Commissioner Batari, on behalf of ICAC, thanked the National Judiciary Staff Services and its Publications Committee, chaired by Justice David Cannings, for the generous donation.

He said the books would help address gaps in the Commission’s legal resources and strengthen the work of its lawyers in supporting investigations and prosecutions of corrupt conduct.

The donation will provide ICAC lawyers with additional reference materials to support legal research, case preparation and the prosecution of corruption matters through the courts.