Driver jailed 2-yrs for cheating

By CLARISSA MOI
A 54-YEAR-OLD man was jailed two years by the National Court for misappropriating more than K14,000 belonging to his former employer.
However, Acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi yesterday suspended Maso Uto’s sentence and placed him on a year of good behaviour.
Uto, from Henganofi’s Hagege village in Eastern Highlands, was employed with Tango Ltd as a driver.
Justice Laura said there was a fraudulent scheme involving fuel cards which Uto failed to report it.
The way the offence occurred was that Uto would sign a log book and obtain a fuel card. He would then drive the vehicle that was assigned to him to top up at the fuel station.
He would park on the side and while other vehicles would come to purchase fuel, the pump attendant would collect the money but he would use the fuel card to re-fill the unsuspecting vehicle.
Uto would then split the takings with the pump attendant.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of misappropriating K14,509.56 in two different periods.
“Corruption at all levels are prevalent in our society. It is often said that it is a cancer that is slowly eating our society.
“People must learn to enjoy only the toils of their labour. Many people today are living beyond their means and are losing their integrity to steal especially from their employer,” Judge Laura said.
“In this case just because everyone else was doing it does not mean that it is right and Uto can take part in it.
Justice Laura said corruption in our society can be stopped if individuals report or not engage in it.