Eight charges against Hickey dismissed

National
Source:
The National, Wednesday July 20th, 2016

 By DOROTHY MARK
THREE witnesses claimed in a trial presided by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika that there was no proper documentation in the processing of payment for mv Manam by the Bogia district through the office of MP John Hickey in 2013.
Sir Gibbs dismissed eight charges but allowed Hickey’s trial on a misappropriation charge to proceed.
The witnesses were former Bogia district treasury examiner Cliff Buka, acting district treasurer John Phil and former provincial treasurer Namuesh Andrew.
Buka testified before in the national court yesterday that he queried a payment of K680,000 to Kapali Ltd to buy a boat for Manam islanders as there were no attachments of certain documents required by the Finance Management Act. Sir Gibbs said all the employers of the treasury who had allowed the payment failed in their requirements under the act.
Phil said he had no choice because no one from the Finance and Treasury Department had helped him convince Hickey to follow the proper processes.