NGOs push for Nape’s arrest

THE Civil Society Organisations and the NGOs are calling on the Government to explain why the arrest of Speaker Jeffrey Nape by the famous Sweep Team has not been effected since the warrant of arrest was issued in January this year.
 
The NGOs have in their possession a Warrant for Arrest document filed at the Waigani District court on January 25, 2012 by Sergeant Bernard Barrum of the National Fraud and Anti Corruption Division (NFACD) including the affidavits.
The Organisations are questioning why the arrest has not been undertaken and whether there are two laws for the ordinary and for the MPs.
Sweep Team executives have responded that the process was still in order and the investigations was still on-going and to come out at an early stage like this was uncalled for.
The arrest warrant details that on July 23, 2009, Jeffrey Nape the current Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea wrote a letter requesting funding from the Department of Finance and Treasury to Rehabilitate Coffee and Pyrethrum in his Sinasina Yongomugl Electorate/District. The funding request of K30 million was in the form of a three (3) page letter, without any costing or justification as to how this figure was reached. It was not submitted through the normal process of project submissions made to the Office of the Secretary for National Planning and Monitoring.
Based on this letter alone a reduced amount of K5.0 million was drawn on 28th October 2010, and paid to a Company called Koge Yaba Poramara Estate Ltd. The name on the cheque did not correspond with the account name and the bank refused to accept it. Subsequently another cheque was drawn on December 3, 2010, of the same amount and paid to, this time Koge Yoba Estate Ltd.
He used his position and power as Member of Parliament and Speaker o f the National Parliament, obtained this money circumventing proper processes. Fortunately for the State and tax payers of PNG this money was not paid out.
“Therefore, I make this application before this Honorable Court for the issuance of a Warrant of Arrest under Section 49 and 8 of the Arrest Act in order to arrest Mr Jeffrey Nape, member for Sinasina Yongomugl Electorate for the charges of Abuse of Office, False Pretence and Attempted Misappropriation/Stealing,” the document detailed.
But Speaker Nape said he is adamant he has not erred in this process and that the money was never released.
He said he is ready to face the Sweep team.