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Ex-finance boss charged
A FORMER finance boss for the Southern Highlands provincial government
has been charged by police for allegedly misusing K45,000 in 2002.
Stan Pupio was charged by fraud investigators yesterday in Mendi for
allegedly obtaining the money after he allegedly produced a false
provincial government requisition form on Aug 6, 2002.
Police alleged that the requisition form (FF3 and FF4) bore a forged
signature of then provincial administrator Uhae Yabo and had the cheque
processed for the amount of K45,000 for an alleged duty travel by the
duo to Brisbane, Australia.
Mr Pupio is the 24th person to be charged by police for fraud following
continuing investigations under the State of Emergency operations in
Mendi.
Mr Pupio, who remained tightlipped yesterday during interview, was
charged with two counts of false pretence under Section 404(1) of the
Criminal Code Act, and for misappropriation under Section 383 (1) of the
same Act.
Police alleged that on Aug 6, 2002, Mr Pupio produced the false
requisition to the then systems administrator Dorothy Yakop, bearing the
forged signature of Mr Yabo.
It was alleged that a cheque (No. 013233) of K45,000 dated Aug 6, 2002,
was processed on the pretext that Mr Pupio and the administrator were to
take a duty trip to Brisbane.
The money, budgeted for the Mendi/Munhui road project, was made payable
to him.
Police alleged that after getting the cheque from the provincial
government, he then deposited it into his personal cheque account with
Bank South Pacific’s Mendi branch on Aug 7.
Following the deposit, police alleged he raised cash cheques which were
made payable to his immediate family members and friends, including
withdrawals from automated teller machines and EFTPOS purchases in Port
Moresby and Mendi.
Police said as of Sept 17, 2002, the personal cheque account had a
balance of K176.84.
Police said when the false claim was discovered, Mr Pupio allegedly
orchestrated another claim as a reimbursement to be paid by the
provincial government back to Mendi/Munhui road project.
Another cheque (No. 134843), dated Sept 26, 2002, for the same amount
was raised from the provincial government’s operating account, but the
cheque was reportedly not presented at the bank.
The provincial government’s cash office records showed the receiver
statement was received by the office.
 
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