Court to rule on manager’s theft charge in March

THE Committal Court in Lae will make a ruling next month on a misappropriation charge against a senior public servant in Morobe.
Esia Batu, 43, from Kwenzengzeng village in Pindiu, Finschhafen, who is council manager with the Onga-Waffa sub-district in the Markham district, is charged with misappropriating K10,000 in 2006, while he was manager of the Kome sub-district in Menyamya.
Two ward councilors in Menyamya, Lamu Ngawasi of Kome sub-district and George Jalambing of Wafi sub-district, claim that the money was earmarked for the maintenance of the Yakepa Tsewi road.
But Batu, whose statement was backed by former Menyamya district administrator Buds Botikie, said the money was for the Menyamya-Concordia road.
Batu filed proof of contracts signed between the Menyamya district administration and the youths from Concordia, Hami, Umba, Menya, and Menge.
He also provided fiscal forms of monies raised in the names of the groups but made payable to him.
He said village groups did not have bank accounts and cheques were made payable to district officers to pay out.
His accusers had said the K10,000 was paid into his personal account and that he had failed to pay them.
Batu said the money was paid into his account and he had paid the groups who had worked in September of 2006.
Batu said police evidence was fabricated.
The case has been adjourned to March 27.