By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
KAGUA-ERAVE MP James Lagea yesterday appeared before the Port Moresby District Court for inciting a fight over a total of K232,000 belonging to his electorate’s fund.
The money was suspected to be fraudulently withdrawn from the electorate’s account on Dec 6 at the Bank South Pacific branch in down town Port Moresby.
Lagea, 43, from Eangori village in Kagua, Southern Highlands province, was accused of inciting a fight that resulted in the bashing up of a victim suspected to be involved in the alleged fraudulent transaction.
The victim was a former signatory to the electorate’s account during a former MP’s reign.
The hearing was adjourned to next Jan 28 for a pre-trial and his K50 bail application was also extended.
Mr Lagea denied his involvement in the fight when he spoke to The National outside court yesterday.
“I don’t know about that fight, but I’am aware that K232,000 from my electorate funds was allegedly withdrawn fraudulently by the victim with the help of some bank officers.
“That money was from the K300,000 that SHP Governor Anderson Agiru had given to the eight MPs of the province late last month.
“Now I have about K70,000 left in the account and what can I do with that money to help bring services to my electorate?”
Mr Lagea also produced a copy of a letter dated Dec 10 to the BSP Port Moresby branch to explain how they had cashed a cheque of K232,000 that had signatures of former signatories.
“We have three new signatories to the account and they are the legal ones to authorise any transaction with my consent.”
BSP bank officers said that they were aware of the alleged fraudulent transaction but could not comment further.
Mr Lagea also alleged that he was treated like a common criminal when five police cars full of armed police officers surrounded his house last Monday at five mile in Port Moresby at around 1am and shouted at him to come out of the house.
“I came out an hour later as I have heard stories about armed bogus police offices in uniforms going around and bashing up people,” he said.
Mr Lagea said he was then taken to the Boroko police station and detained untill about 5.30am when he was charged for assault.
He was later relesed on paying K50 bail.
He said police should apprehend the suspects in the alleged fraud.