Court dismisses Alu’s case

FRAUD charges against the managing director of National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (Naqia), Joel Alu, were struck out by Waigani Committal Court last week.
Alu was alleged to have defrauded the state of more than K104,000.
Magistrate John Kaumi dismissed the case because the arresting officer did not complete Alu’s file and it was already three months since the case started. “This is not a new matter and the defendant (Alu) has been going back and forth to court for three months now and he has not been served with a police file,” Kaumi said.
It was alleged that the complainant, Thomas Duni, who was employed as a driver by Naqia for three years discovered alleged misuse of public funds by Alu. Other staff members of Naqia remained silent on the matter for fear of repercussions if they spoke out, the court heard.
The matter was reported to police, who arrested and charged Alu on Nov 27 last year.
He was on a K10,000 bail.