In a National Court decision, Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika sentenced former senior state minister Hon. Paul Tiensten to nine years with hard labor imprisonment for the misappropriation of K10 million.

Mr. Tiensten was a senior minister of the then Somare’s National Alliance Government, successively holding the ministries of Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and National Planning and Monitoring. Mr. Tiensten was first elected to parliament in 2002 and had been in political office for over a decade until his sentencing.

Mr. Tiensten used his official powers as the Minister of the National Planning and Monitoring Department to direct the then Secretary Ruby Zariga to make payments of K10 million to Travel Air, an airline business owned by Eramas Wartoto. The funds were paid from monies earmarked for rural freight subsidies as seed capital to get the airline up and running.

Mr. Tiensten was investigated, charged, and prosecuted and found guilty of official corruption, obtaining goods by false pretences, and misappropriation.

In handing down the decision, the Deputy Chief Justice said Mr. Tiensten used his “political muscles” to direct his official to facilitate the grant ignoring proper assessment procedures.

He further stated that it was a breach of trust and abuse of position whilst occupying a position of trust as an elected MP and appointed Minister of State to commit this offense and it involved a lot of money, hence rendering it a serious offense.

Mr. Tiensten was sentenced to nine years with hard labor adding that four years would be deducted if K10 million was repaid.