Ex-speaker questioned and released

FORMER parliament speaker Jeffery Nape was detained for questioning and released, chief police investigator and National Fraud and Anti-Corruption division director Timothy Gitua said in Port Moresby yesterday.
Chief Supt Gitua said Nape, the former Sinasina-Yongomugl MP, was remanded through a bench warrant in Kundiawa last Friday and flown to Port Moresby for questioning over several pending allegations.
He said Nape was taken to the police division headquarters and released without being charged after the interview.
It is understood that one of the cases police are interested in is the misuse of rehabilitation of education sector infrastructure (Resi) funds for the electorate involving millions of kina.
 “Although Nape was detained for an interview through a warrant of arrest, he was released,” Gitua said.
“We will still require him for further questioning if warranted as investigations are continuing into the allegations,” he said.
Task Force Sweep chairman Sam Koim said Nape was interviewed in relation to his part in a K5 million payment made for some coffee and pyrethrum projects in Sinasina-Yongomugl undertaken by a company he  nominated.
Koim said Nape’s interview was suspended because there were some issues raised that needed to be looked into.
He said Nape would be recalled when those issues were verified.