ABC probe claims money paid to Nauru politicians

NAURU – New documents have emerged detailing tens of thousands of dollars being paid by an Australian company to the family of Nauru’s Justice Minister, David Adeang.

The bank records reveal monthly transactions from the account of the phosphate company Getax, which was formerly based on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Federal Police are investigating the company for the alleged payment of bribes to Nauruan politicians, in an effort to access the island’s deposits of rock phosphate.

The ABC first revealed the apparent arrangement last year, after obtaining emails which suggested Getax was sending money to Nauru a number of politicians, including Nauru’s current President Baron Waqa and Justice Minister David Adeang.

Those emails were dated from 2009 and 2010. The latest documents obtained by the ABC include bank statements confirming payments to politicians were already being made in 2008.

Amounts of $10,000 were transferred on several occasions from Getax’s Westpac account into the ANZ bank account of Madelyn Adeang, the late wife of Minister David Adeang.

The payments were described as “Consultancy fees”, or “Fees for Adeang”.

The Nauruan Government has previously denied allegations of bribery involving Getax, describing the claims as “baseless”.

The co-chair of the International Bar Association’s anti-corruption committee, Robert Wyld, says the evidence appears clear.

“There appears to be a very compelling case to evidence what a businessman or company has tried to do, and that is to pay money to politicians to secure a business deal,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 programme.

-ABC/PacNews