Court frees ex-NHC boss

THE State has withdrawn fraud-related charges against former acting managing director of the National Housing Corporation Elizabeth Bowada, saying it lacked evidence to proceed with the case.
National Court acting judge Justice Laura Kuvi dismissed the charges after the State’s decision.
Justice Kuvi ordered that her bail money be refunded.
Bowada, 42, of Okaikoda village in Losuia, Milne Bay, had appeared in court in July last year facing a count each of misappropriation, false pretence and making false claims.
In January this year, Chief Magistrate Mark Pupaka dismissed the charges of misappropriation of property and obtaining goods by false pretences because of insufficient evidence.
It decided to proceed to trial with the false claim charge. It was in relation to her loss in salary between April 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019, while being employed as a senior legal officer of the National Housing Corporation, amounting to K156,983.67.
Her lawyer David Dusal said the case was supposed to go to trial yesterday.
But the State could not find any evidence and filed a nolle prosequi, meaning it would not proceed with the case.
“It doesn’t have any substantial evidence to proceed with the trial,” Dusal said.
Bowada said it had been an emotional journey.
“In the process of the journey, I did lose my job as the acting managing director.
“The main reason I was not made permanent was because of this proceeding.
“I’m glad that today, justice is served,” Bowada said.