Aopi committed to National Court

 By MIRIAM MALAWA

PARLIAMENT’S former chief financial officer Charles Aopi  has been committed to the National Court  on charges of stealing, forgery and uttering forged documents.

He is alleged to have stolen K150,000 on Sept 26 last year and forged documents between Sept 12 and 26 to make payable  K200,000 in cash.

Aopi was ordered to appear for listing at the Waigani National Court on July 15 after appearing before Magistrate Cosmos Bidar in the committal court last Friday.

Bidar said on the evidence  provided, there was sufficient evidence to move the case to the National Court

Bidar told Aopi, 47 and from Alotau, Milne Bay, that on Sept 26 last year he was alleged to have stolen K150,000 at Bank South Pacific, Harbour City in Port Moresby. 

Bidar said between Sept 12 and 26 at the BSP  Port Moresby branch, he was alleged to have forged documents and made payable K200,000.

The prosecution said the account from which the cash was drawn had K162,000 and Aopi made necessary changes  by crossing out the words and replacing it with K150,000. 

Bidar said the purpose of the committal court was merely to consider the evidence and to see whether it was sufficient to commit him to the National Court.