Duban to stand trial

Reports by SYLVESTER WEMURU
FORMER Madang MP Nixon Duban was committed to stand trial in the National Court for three charges of misappropriation and one count of conspiracy.
Madang Committal Court Magistrate Ben Kome, on Wednesday, found enough evidence to commit Duban and said the District Court did not have enough power to make any further decision.
Duban’s lawyer Bradley Wak said he would file an appeal because there were many technical errors.
Duban was arrested and charged with three counts of misappropriation and one count of conspiracy to defraud the state when he was Madang MP.
The court heard that Duban, 46, from Hamo village, allegedly on March 28, 2013, dishonestly applied K200,000 of public funds to the use of a firm.
He also allegedly on the same date dishonestly applied to the use of a church K140,000.
The court also heard that he also allegedly used K260,000 for an educational tour to Jayapura in 2013.
On the charge of conspiracy, it was alleged that on March 27 and April 3, Duban conspired with others to use K600,000 for Yagum Rural Hospital renovation project kept in the Madang treasury operating account.