PNG officials arrested for issuing fake birth certificates

3:08 pm on 9 December 2017

Papua New Guinea police have arrested two public servants and are on the hunt for one more suspected to be involved in issuing illegal birth certificates.

The National reports that two National Identity Office employees are in custody in Port Morseby, while a "senior officer" is "expected to be arrested soon".

The trio are thought to be behind a syndicate involving others outside government involved in illegal activities.

The office is also responsible for PNG's national identity card project, which the government is pushing as a universal identity document.

Acting Registrar-General Michael Kumung told the National the project is being threatened by corruption.