Charges read to NAC employee

By GEORGINA KOREI
A NATIONAL Airports Corporation (NAC) employee charged with one count each of perjury and false testimony and appeared before the Waigani Committal Court on Tuesday.
Walter Vele, 46, from Keapara village, Rigo in Central asked the court to dismissed his charges as he had had been faithfully attending court but had no proper instructions from the police since March.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii told Vele that he had no power to dismiss the case but could strike it out if there was no police evidence provided after six months.
Police prosecutor Christian Iga told the court that Vele had been arraigned on March 8.
Magistrate Nii told Iga that the prosecution was required to prepare its case including progress reports on the police file when appearing in court.
He adjourned the case to Aug 17 saying this would be the final adjournment and if the police file was not ready by then he would strike out the case.
It was alleged that on June 22,
2020, Vele, who was employed as a fleet coordinator with the NAC, raised an allegation of abuse of office against the complainant Rex Kiponge for authorising the refilling of a vehicle to the amount of 1,115 litres of fuel costing K3,465.