Nauru's justice minister denies Australian bribery allegations

Nauru's Justice Minister David Adeang has denied allegations that he was bribed by an Australian phosphate-mining firm, local media reported Tuesday.

The alleged bribery by Australian mining firm, Getax, involved payments and inducements via Asian bank accounts to senior Nauru politicians, including the president, as part of efforts to obtain political backing for its phosphate operations.

Adeang said in a statement he was "offended and speechless" about the "untrue and personal nature" of the allegations, saying he is likely to take legal action against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"It is unprecedented for an Australian media organization to interfere in the domestic politics of another country," Adeang said.

The ABC reported on Monday night that Nauru President Baron Waqa allegedly received 60,000 Australian dollars (46,217 U.S. dollars) while Adeang received 10,000 Australian dollars (7,702 U. S. dollars) per month in 2009 and 2010 from Getax.

Emails leaked to the ABC show Adeang solicited an additional 665,000 Australian dollars (512,186 U.S. dollars) in payments for himself and other Nauruan politicians from Getax.

The leaked emails also revealed a plot to overthrow the Nauruan government in 2010.

Adeang told former Getax director Ashok Gupta that they could take the country to a higher level of development while also giving more success to Gupta's business, while in opposition in 2009.

Adeang also said he had the support of a number of other Nauruan ministers who were prepared to desert the government.

"We give you full authority to mobilize or lubricate the MPs to secure the vote and win the battle," Gupta replied.

At the time, Getax was paying one-tenth of the market rate per metric tonne of phosphate to Nauru.

In 2010, News Corp reported Australian officials, including those from intelligence agencies, senior Australian diplomats and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), expressed concern to the then Nauruan government over Getax's alleged role in destabilizing the country.

Nauru was in political crisis in 2010 shortly after a Getax- funded trip to Singapore in January of that year for the opposition and several ex-government MPs.

The ex-president of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, lost his 12-6 parliamentary majority with the subsequent defection to the opposition of three government MPs who were on the fortnight-long trip.

On Monday, A Nauru government spokesman denied Adeang or Waqa had received bribes, saying it was offensive to the nation of Nauru. Endi