Court extends Yama and wives bails in case concerning K6mil Manam funds

MADANG Governor Peter Yama appeared in the Madang District Court on Friday after he was charged with various criminal offences in connection with an ongoing investigation into the K6 million Manam Resettlement Authority (MRA) funds.
Yama’s two wives were also charged with various offences for their alleged involvement in the alleged misuse of the MRA funds.
Yama, 66, from Usino-Bundi, Madang, was charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud, misappropriation, breach of Public Finance Management Act, money laundering and abuse of office.
Yama’s wife Mary Simoi Yama, 67, from Sumkar’s Bakbak in Madang, was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count of money laundering and terrorist financing and one count of false pretence.
His other wife, Velda Yama, 43, from Makerupu, Central, was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count of money laundering and terrorist financing and one count of false pretence.
The three appeared before senior Magistrate Ben Kome.
Magistrate Kome extended their K3,000 bail and adjourned the matter to Oct 20.
Police Commissioner David Manning earlier said: “Yama is alleged to have in his capacity as Madang governor, provincial executive council chairman and Ramu Development Foundation Ltd chairman used his position to authorise and approve the diversion of K6 million funding which was a tied-grant earmarked for the MRA projects and programmes for the displaced Manam Islanders at the three centres in Potsdam, Asarumba and Mangem.”