Director facing 15 fraud-related charges

A DIRECTOR of the OK Tedi Fly River Development Foundation has appeared in court facing 15 fraud-related charges in relation to funds belonging to landowners in Western.
Edna Oai of Daru town in Western appeared before the Committal Court in Waigani, Port Moresby, charged with five counts each of conspiracy, false pretences and misappropriation.
She will return to court on March 4. Her bail for K3,000 was extended with conditions that she does not interfere with State witnesses, attend court when her case is called, not leave the National Capital District and reside at her known address.
The charges relate to payments made from funds belonging to the Western people’s dividend trust funds.
Oai was alleged to have, on Aug 17, 2018, conspired with others to pay K15 million to a law firm’s trust account from the landowner’s dividend trust account as legal fees, after a board meeting.
The board had allegedly resolved to pay K5 million to the foundation on Sept 4, 2018.
She and other board member allegedly approved another K21 million to pay seven Community Mine Continuation Agreement regions on Dec 23, 2019.
It was alleged that the board last February approved a payment of K190 million from the people’s trust fund to the foundation for the settlement of family accounts.
Police allege that the five payments totalling K268 million were illegal and not in accordance with the intention of the people’s trust account.
Oai was arrested at her home in Daru and brought to Port Moresby.