Friday, October 5, 2012

Chairman arrested for fraud



By GRACE TIDEN

THE Task Force Sweep Team’s investigations into the financial affairs of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring have revealed yet another alleged foul play.
A number of people were arrested this week with the latest being the chairman of a cooperative society in the Gulf Province.
The investigation team arrested the Chairman of the Eopi Cooperative Society, Christopher Pomora Hulape, aged 35 from the Kikori area of Gulf Province for allegedly misappropriating K1.5 million belonging to the state.
According to a major incident brief, K1.5m was paid out to the Eopi Cooperative Society Limited cheque account after a project proposal was submitted to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring in 2011.
The funding was purposely for the Eopi fisheries project which was to be developed at Vailala Hilo Village in the Kikori District of Gulf Province.
The Task Force Sweep Investigation Team, in its investigations, inspected the project site and discovered that no such project existed in the area.
East New Britain Provincial police commander and Task Force Sweep Team Deputy Chairman, Chief Superintendent Sylvester Kalaut, said further investigations revealed that the monies deposited to the Eopi Cooperative Society Limited cheque account were all withdrawn and used.
The accused was interviewed and formally arrested in Kokopo where he resides and charged with one count of misappropriation and one count of stealing by false pretence.
He was detained by police and appeared for mention at the Kokopo Committal Court yesterday.
His case was adjourned to a later date.

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