Detectives investigate projects in district programme

DETECTIVES from the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate in Port Moresby are investigating a number of projects in the Menyamya district of Morobe funded under the District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP).
The team of officers arrived last month and spent three days in the district visiting project sites.
District administrator Misek Wowongo said the officers were interested in a number of projects funded through DSIP.
Wowongo said the projects included the Mt Sikong FM and EMTV tower, road construction work carried out by Wabo Construction and projects carried out by Anga-New Guinea Ltd (ANGL).
ANGL is the business arm of the Menyamya district works unit and Wabo Construction and PNG Media are private contractors.
PNG Media said it had not run away but was waiting for its outstanding K200,000.
Managing director Philip Sapau said the first phase of the project was complete and they were now ready to install the transmission equipment but lacked funds.
“They have not paid us fully but on installments,” Sapau said.
“That is a total breach of the contract.
“We have not misused any funds.”
The contractor also questioned why policemen had to be flown in from Port Moresby to investigate the contractors.
Sapau had requested the district administration to halt the investigation and release their funds and allow them to complete the project as his employees and subcontractors were adversely affected.
“The materials, costing about K56,000 and bought in from Singapore, are sitting idle in Bulolo,” Sapau said.