Engineer convicted for misappropriating machines

THE National Court has convicted a 60-year-old engineer for misappropriating machines and properties belonging to Gulf’s Carmon Construction Ltd.
Acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi yesterday made the decision in Waigani saying that a verdict of guilty was written to count one and two of the indictment of the charges of misappropriation and a verdict of not guilty to the charge of stealing K15,000 from the company.
She convicted Puana Puana Veravekapi, from Moapa village in Abau, Central, for the charges of misappropriation and acquitted him from the charge of stealing.
“One, the accused is found guilty and convicted of the charge of misappropriation under Section 382 1A 2B of the Criminal Code,” she said.
“Two, the accused is found guilty and convicted of the charge of misappropriation under Section 383A 1A, 2B of the Criminal Code.
“Three, the accused is found not guilty of the charge of stealing under Section 372 of the Criminal Code.”
Wawun-Kuvi said Veravekapi was a civil engineer and was employed by Carmon Construction as their project manager between 2017 and 2018.
She said in 2017, Gulf government awarded a contract for constructions of the Kerema town roads and as project manager, Veravekapi oversaw the project.
“The State charges the accused on the unauthorised use of Carmon’s equipment on other projects in Kerema other than the town roads,” she said.
“Count one, between March 1 and Dec 31, 2018, Veravekapi, at Kerema town, dishonestly applied to the use of projects developing services equipment and property belonging to Carmon Construction Ltd.
“The State alleged that on June 24, 2017, Carmon signed a contract with the State for the construction and sealing of the Kerema town roads.