CS officer in court in K875,000 fraud case

By Alphonse Porau
An officer charged with misappropriating more than K875,000 belonging to PNG Correctional Services appeared in the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.
Sergeant Solomon Junt Warur, 48, from Rainau village in the Kokopo district of East New Britain and who was employed as a communications officer, faces 134 counts – 67 for misappropriation and 67 for obtaining money by false pretence.
He appeared for arraignment before magistrate Cosmas Bidar, who read the charges to him and adjourned the case to Feb 23 for mention.
The court heard that the charges against Warur covered a period of five years, from July 2, 2010 to May 11, 2015.
It heard that the defendant was a sergeant employed as a communications officer with the ICT section at PNG Correctional Services and was responsible for telephone bills, supply of telecards to CS headquarters, training centre and telephone line services and maintenance.
It was alleged that in 2010 the defendant incorporated a company known as Merc-Tech Electronics Ltd and was the principal owner of it.
He also opened an account with Bank South Pacific under the company name.
The court head that after opening the bank account one of the allegations was that on July 2, 2010, the defendant pretended to PNGCS that service and maintenance of a printer was needed for headquarters and Correctional Services around the country and obtained K10,450. This was allegedly done with intent to defraud.
The court heard that a similar tactic was employed 66 times in which the defendant allegedly used his company for doing pretexts for ordering machinery and parts for IT equipment and invoiced CS.
Cheques were raised totalling K875,301.90.
The court head the defendant allegedly collected the cheques and deposited them into his company account, using the money for his own purpose.
The defendant was arrested and charged on Dec 14.
He is on a K2000 bail.