Director charged

OK Tedi Fly River Development Foundation director Boston Kassiman was charged in the Waigani Committal Court with 15 counts of misappropriation involving K248 million belonging to Western people.
Magistrate Danny Wakikura read the charges to Kassiman comprising five counts of false pretence, five counts of misappropriation and five counts of conspiracy.
He is charged with other directors, Anne Smerewai, Edna Oai and lawyer Greg Sheppard of Young and Williams lawyers.
Kassiman is alleged to have on various dates beginning on Aug 30, 2018, conspired with others through board meetings for the foundation with the intension to defraud the people of Western totalling K248 million held in a CMCA trust account. Police also alleged that on various dates between Aug 30, 2018, and last Feb 21, Kassiman dishonestly applied different sums of money totalling K248 million held in the account.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam informed the court that the police hand-up briefs for all matters had been completed, filed and served, except for Sheppard’s recent arrest.
He also asked the court to deal with Sheppard’s recent charges separately.
Wakikura then adjourned hearing for a month to allow parties time to prepare submissions.
Parties were ordered to deliver submissions by Oct 4 to allow time for preparation for response before the matter returns for oral submissions on Oct 11.
Their bails were extended.