Contractor held over failure to complete work

POLICE in Lae arrested and charged a contractor who failed to do maintenance work on police accommodation at Labi Barracks, East Taraka.
Police said the contractor allegedly claimed half a million kina from the provincial government to refurbish all police accommodation at Labi Barracks but had taken the money without starting any work.
Northern divisional commander Peter Guinness said this was the work of people who were out to steal from the state and provincial authorities.
“You can do your con deals to secure and squander hundreds of thousands of kina from the state but the law will always find you,” he said.
“You can run but you will not hide.”
Guinness said police were currently experiencing hard times with regards to their deteriorating infrastructure and projects to improve the situation were needed.
According to court documents, the 49-year-old accused secured the funds through the normal process through the provincial supply and tenders board (PSTB), a sum of K500,000 for the renovation and maintenance work.
The funds were released between 2014 and 2016 for the work which had never taken place.
The accused is the owner of the building and construction maintenance company.
Police charged the suspect with one count of misappropriation.
Lae metropolitan commander Chief Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr is the complainant in the matter and his personnel at the Labi Barracks are his witnesses.
Fraud squad investigators are currently working on the case.