Kila Pat case dismissed

By TABITHA NERO
THE Waigani National Court has dismissed fraud-related charges against former Lands secretary Romilly Kila Pat and two others because of lack of evidence.
Kila Pat and his former colleagues Simeon Andrew and Vavine Walo, all from Central, were charged with dishonestly applying to use more than K200,000 belonging to the Department of Lands between Sept 14 and 20, last year, in the National Capital District.
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika dismissed the charges and told the court that the public prosecutor would not continue to prosecute the case because of lack of evidence.
“There is not enough evidence in the case,” Sir Gibbs said.
The court ordered a refund of their bail money.
Later outside court, Kila Pat told The National that after being in and out of the court room for more than a year, he was delighted that it was all over and that he could move on in life.
“I respect the institutions of government and the decisions that they have made in this matter,” he said.
Police alleged that on Sept 15, last year, Kila Pat, Andrew and Walo conspired to misappropriate K208,569.70 from the Department of Lands. It was also alleged that Andrew, who was the Lands corporate services director, raised a requisition on Sept 14 which was approved and signed by Kila Pat.
A cheque for K208,569.70 was allegedly raised from the Land Administration Reform Trust Account before it was endorsed and signed by Kila Pat and Walo, the department finance manager.
The cheque was paid to Bola Motors and withdrawn on Sept 17 last year.