Deputy governor appears in court on criminal charges

GULF deputy governor Charles Maiu has appeared at the Waigani Committal Court on three criminal charges.
Special police investigation team officer Superintendent Jacob Ivaroa said Maiu was charged with misappropriation, stealing and false pretence.
Maiu appeared before magistrate Cosmas Bidar and is out on bail.
While on police bail in Kerema, he said Maiu allegedly assaulted Timothy Hearo, the ward councillor for Akeparu ward, at a police station in Kerema. Hearo sustained serious injuries on his face and mouth.
However, Ivaroa said the case was transferred without the knowledge and consent of police investigation officers.
He said the police investigation team had completed the investigation and presented a report to Maiu’s lawyers and the court to see whether there was a case to proceed or not.
“The investigating team will hold discussions with the police prosecutor and inform him that an application would be made to the Kerema court to have the matter transferred back to Waigani Court since the assault was a breach of his bail condition relating to the case,” said Ivaroa.
Ivaroa said in the first case deputy governor Maiu was arrested and charged by the police after a counsellor for Akeparu ward laid a complaint with the police that vehicles bought for Akeparu, Ahia and Kouri wards by the provincial government were allegedly misused by Maiu.
Maiu has refused to cooperate with Kerema police for the alleged assault case and had allegedly resisted police arrest despite it taking place in front of police officers in Kerema.
“An application will be made to the Kerema court for the matter to be transferred to Port Moresby so that fair a hearing should take place”.