PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Jan. 7) - A former Charge d’Affair and acting ambassador for Papua New Guinea to the United States, Graham Michael, has been sentenced in the U.S. for fraud.
Michael was sentenced in connection with his prior guilty plea to defrauding the embassy.
Michael, 42, who now lives in Bunker Hill, West Virginia, appeared for sentencing last week in the U.S. district court before Judge John D. Bates, who sentenced him to five years of probation, with 250 hours of community service, and ordered him to make restitution to the embassy of US$70,052.
Because Michael is not a citizen of the United States, his conviction may subject him to detention, deportation and other sanctions at the direction of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Michael was employed as the Charge d’Affair/acting ambassador and counsel for approximately six and a half years for the embassy.
Michael tendered his resignation from the...