Customs officer caught for cheating

By ELIZABETH VUVU
A CUSTIOMS agent from Morobe province, attached to the Lihir Customs Limited has dishonestly misappropriated a large sum of money involving illegal customs charge collected from clients.
Suspect Namex Soko, 38, from Labubutu village in the Huon Gulf district of Morobe province appeared before the Kavieng District Court in New Ireland last Wednesday to answer charges of six counts of misappropriation laid against him.
The court heard that between 2000 to November 22, 2006, Soko was chasing clients from whom he demanded payments for customs clearance of cargo from his employer, Lihir Customs Ltd.
The matter went on undetected as the suspect sent email messages continuously to unsuspecting clients.
His company was however not aware of the outstanding charges which Soko was billing their clients.
The matter was later reported to police, whose investigations later revealed that the money was fraudulently diverted to Ailan Freight Services Ltd which was reportedly had no legalcontract with Lihir Gold Mine.
The court heard the suspect had alleged to have fraudulently diverted Lihir Customs Limited funds six times, a sum up to K902, 834.11.
The court heard that fraudulent charges imposed by Mr Soko were finally discovered when clients complained to Lihir Customs Ltd, over the amounts involved.
Mr Soko was refused bail due to the seriousness of his alleged offence. His case has been adjourned to December 5.