Papua New Guinea's Chief Secretary, Isaac Lupari, has been sacked by the Somare government.
This is the fifth time Mr Lupari has been given his marching orders by a PNG government.
The prime minister's spokeswoman said Cabinet made a decision to terminate the chief secretary in the interest of the state.
The sacking comes as the ongoing inquiry into the whereabouts of over 75 million US dollars missing from PNG's Finance Department looks like starting again.
Mr Lupari is a key player in the inquiry from his time in the Finance Department.
Despite failing to attend numerous previous inquiry call-ups, Mr Lupari told PNG's National newspaper he had nothing to hide.
He said he is not afraid to face the commission and tell the truth.
