Eight facing related charges

By JIMMY KALEBE
EIGHT people accused of misappropriating K6 million belonging to the Manam Resettlement Authority in Madang have appeared in court and remanded. Assistant Police Commissioner Northern Peter Guinness said the eight were charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud, plus charges of abuse of office and breaching the process and procedures of Public Finance Management Act. Four were from the Madang provincial administration and other four were officers of the Ramu Development Foundation, a business arm of the Madang government. “The four from the foundation will be further charged with 19 counts each of misappropriation,” he said. Police alleged that the eight had conspired to facilitate payments totalling K6 million belonged to the authority. They appeared before the Ramu District Court on Tuesday and then transported to Buimo jail in Lae. They are former Madang administrator John Kunda, 51, of Bononi village in Usino Bundi; certifying officer Loimeng Bande, 57, of Sisiak; finance manager Helen Kanimba, 60, of Giri in Bogia; assembly clerk Hendry Kambuka, 54, of Madang; foundation project manager Richard Nagos, 37, of Urigen in Karkar; foundation director Anton Kaming, 61, of Rempi; manager property and assets Reisino; and, foundation managing director Joseph Aka.
The Government, in 2017, allocated K20 million under the public investment programme budget for roads and infrastructure development for displaced Manam islanders at the care centres in Bogia. In 2018, K8 million was released to the provincial government in Madang to manage on behalf of the authority. It was found that K6 million was paid to the foundation on April 4, 2019, which had submitted 19 claims to the Madang administration for the reimbursement of funds used for various services provided on behalf of the Madang administration during the Manam disaster operations between September and December 2018. Police alleged that all 19 claims were approved by the Madang administration and cheques were raised on April 6, 2019. More arrests are expected, Guinness said