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Banker arrested for
alleged misuse
By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Rural Development Bank manager in Mendi
was arrested by anti-corruption and fraud squad last week for one count
of misappropriation.
Donald Apo, 40, from Boringbogen village Finschhafen, Morobe province,
was arrested and charged with allegedly misappropriating K42,500
belonging to the Southern Highlands government in 2005.
According to police investigations, the officer, in his capacity as the
branch manager, organised refreshment at a cost of K22,500 for guests
who attended a presentation of a K200,000 assistance to the Rural
Development Bank by Governor Hami Yawari.
On Aug 18, 2005, the defendant submitted an acquittal for his expenses,
without receipt or supporting documents to the office of the governor,
seeking reimbursement.
A payment of K42,500 was approved and paid on Nov 9, 2005, by former
administrator Brian Pebo, although the governor did not approve the
payment.
According to bank reports obtained by the police, Mr Apo cashed the
K42,500 and used K10,500 in cash and diverted K32,000 into a joint
account held by him and his wife.
When interviewed by police, he claimed that K21,000 was used for his
wife’s medical expenses. However, police found no medical papers to
support this claim.
In another case, Port Moresby police arrested and charged the president
of Hulia local level government council Mathew Agobe for allegedly
misappropriating more than K77,000 between 2005 and last year.
It was alleged that two different cheques totalling K90,000 were raised
by the Southern Highlands provincial government for the purpose of
attending a gas project and Moran oil field meeting in Madang
respectively.
However, after the two cheques were drawn they were deposited into the
Hulia LLG account at different times and K80,000 was withdrawn from the
account.
It was alleged that K70,000 of that money was diverted into his personal
account while the other K10,000 was distributed to others in Mendi.
Police also said that another cheque of K10,000 was also deposited into
the council account and later withdrawn, of which K7,500 was deposited
into Agobe’s account while the remaining K2,500 was also distributed
among others.
Police investigations showed that the accused used all the money to pay
for hotels bills, purchase alcohol and spent at pokies parlours.
The accused was interrogated by police last week and admitted using the
money for his personal use and is now in police custody.
 
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