Application made to have inquiry moved to home province

By TREVOR WAHUNE
AN inquiry into allegations of official corruption against Maprik MP John Simon, pictured, was yesterday adjourned to Tuesday after his lawyer took issue with an application by the public prosecutor to transfer the matter to East Sepik.
Public prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin yesterday made the application before Justice Nicholas Miviri and magistrates Michael Apie’e and Nancy Lipai.
He told the tribunal that “it would be better to run the trial in East Sepik because most of the witnesses are based there.”
Lawyer Greg Sheppard ,who appeared on behalf of Simon, told the tribunal that he would need time to consider affidavits in submissions filed by Kaluwin that were served to him on Monday before deciding whether to take the matter to East Sepik.
Simon, who was recently appointed minister for agriculture and livestock, was suspended from following allegations of misconduct in office where more than K1.6 million in public funds were allegedly misappropriated.
The Ombudsman Commission is carrying out investigations against Simon on the following allegations:

• From Aug 2012 to Jan 2014, Simon paid his hire car company, Extreme Hire Cars, a total of K226,030 from the Maprik DSIP trust account – Maprik District Treasury Operating Account;
• from Aug 2012 to Jan 2014, Simon allowed the payment to take place without formal approval by the Maprik Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee;
• from Sept 2012 to Nov 2013, Simon allowed his construction company, Extreme Construction, to be paid a total of K1,310,746 from Maprik DSIP trust account, Maprik District Treasury Operating Account without proper tender processes;
• from Sept 2012 to Nov 2014, Simon intentionally agreed for the payment to take place without proper tender processes;
• from July 2012 to Nov 2012, Simon paid a total of K48,500 from Maprik DSIP designated for the District Agriculture Program to his political supporters;
• from Sept 2012 to Nov 2012, Simon intentionally applied the money to his supporters;
• from Oct 2013 to Dec 2013, Simon allowed a payment of K25,032.20 from the Maprik District Treasury Operating Account to Deborah’s Office and School Supplies Ltd, a company he owned in partnership with another person;
• from Oct 2013 to Dec 2013, Simon allowed his associate from Deborah’s Office and School Supplies Ltd to benefit from K20,800 funds from the Maprik District Treasury Operating Account; and,
• from Oct 2013 to Dec 2013, Simon acted on behalf of his associate and Deborah’s Office and School Supplies Ltd and allowed a total payment of K45,832.20.

He has allegedly misappropriated a total of K1,631,108.20.