PNG minister, police hit out at Australia over extradition request for alleged fraudster and Cairns resident Samson Jubi

A Papua New Guinea government minister and top justice officials say they are "extremely frustrated" with Australia for harbouring a Cairns resident wanted for one of the biggest alleged frauds in the country's legal history.

Source: https://www.abc.net.au

In an early test for the Albanese government's Pacific strategy, PNG Immigration Minister Bryan Kramer and the country's national police force have spoken out to the ABC about "unacceptable" delays in Australia's handling of an extradition request for PNG citizen Samson Jubi.

Australia has spent 18 months considering a draft request to extradite Mr Jubi, a Cairns resident who PNG police say is a chief suspect in a fraud case scheduled for trial in two weeks.

Mr Jubi, a lawyer and businessman with ties to senior PNG politicians, is wanted over the alleged misappropriation of 268 million kina ($117 million) from impoverished communities in the country's Western Province.

PNG police allege he conspired to funnel the money from a trust fund set up to benefit tens of thousands of villagers affected by Australian mining giant BHP's environmental catastrophe at the Ok Tedi mine in PNG more than 20 years ago.

ABC Investigations understands Mr Jubi, 53, has travelled freely, flying to Singapore this month, while PNG officials have become increasingly frustrated with the stalled extradition talks.

Mr Kramer this week cancelled Mr Jubi's passport, telling the ABC he would make a formal request to the Australian Border Force to deport him.

"This person is alleged to be the principal architect behind one of our largest financial crimes in our history," said Mr Kramer, who oversaw the case when he was the minister for police and justice.