Amaiu charged with fraud

By DAPHNE WANI
FORMER Moresby North-East MP Labi Amaiu faces fraud-related charges in Port Moresby this week after he was arrested on Friday over National Housing Corporation (NHC) titles.
NCD Superintendent Operations Michael Tilae confirmed the arrest and said Amaiu was detained and later released on a K5000 police bail. “He will appear on Monday or Tuesday at the Waigani Committal Court where the charges will be read out,” Tilae said.
He said the arrest appeared to be “politically motivated” and he had to authorise Amaiu’s release through bail.
According to police, the charges relates to the 301 titles on portion 528, a piece of land near the Duran Farm, located at 8-Mile in the North-East electorate in NCD.
Police allege that between August and September last year, the 301 titles were obtained fraudulently by a company named PNG Resources Corporation Ltd which was owned by Amaiu.
It is also alleged that there was no conveyance done and proper processes were not followed in acquiring those titles valued at K24.08 million. Amaiu, 44, from Kompiam-Abum in Enga, has been charged with seven counts of misappropriation and seven counts of conspiracy to defraud NHC.
Housing and Urbanisation Minister John Kaupa said people acquiring titles of properties belonging to NHC must follow proper processes.
“There are a lot of fraudulent tittles and fraud activities going on within the NHC,” he said.