PNG NRL director stands down over corruption claims
PNG’nin successful NRL proposal leading the man, the expansion team on the allegations of corruption stopped from the board of directors.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape added that on Friday, Wapu Sonk agreed to enter into force as a franchise management director, but it is not “guilt assumption”.
The allegations made by Sydney Morning Herald are about Mr. Sonk’s business agreements as the General Manager of Kumul Petrol.
The report claimed that documents and corporate records were connected to a company in Australia with suspicious agreements with a large Chinese government firm and a land to make contracts ”and a company in Australia.
Mr. Sonk was the president of the NRL PNG Team proposal and helped to provide a support of $ 600 million from the Australian government.
He was elected in June at the opening board of the new franchise.
Mr. Marape, although the issues are indifferent to NRL franchise, said they claimed that they could not be ignored.
“I talked to Mr. Sons and asked him to resign from his role when he was abroad.
“Mr. Sonk has the necessary process and the opportunity to clean the name.
“Going down allows the space to do so without a shadow in the franchise process or without paying the trust of our partners.”
Marape said his government was determined to cooperate with “full transparency” and relevant investigations.
“This national franchise’s integrity is very important. We will not allow it to weaken with external debates… This moment demands clarity, accountability and public confidence,” he said.
“Our National Sports Future – and our international reputation – depends on it.”
Pat Conroy, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs.
The PNG expansion team was officially announced in December 2024 and the team was prepared to participate in the competition in 2028.
At that time, Sonk said, “The whole country will be included in the design of a pseudonym and design for the team on the PNG team where the Rugby League is a national sport.
Former Canterbury Bulldogs boss Ray DİB was elected as the president of the PNG Club in June and the Australian Rugby League commission announced a seven -member Board of Directors.
The Australian government will earn $ 600 million for 10 years in an agreement that ended at the end of 2034.
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