Expat with links to Wartoto arrested
AN expatriate shipping manager of a local company is facing charges of uttering a false document, misappropriation of property and stealing.
According to the investigation Task Force Sweep chairman Sam Koim, Tim Rowland, 49, is in the country on a work permit.
He said Rowland was charged at the Ralum police headquarters in Kokopo, East New Britain, and detained at the Kokopo police cells.
Rowland runs the Sarakolok West Transport Shipping and Brokerage, a company owned by local businessman Eremas Wartoto.
Koim said: “The charges arose from a payment that the Department of National Planning and Monitoring made to Sarakolok West Transport Ltd to supply
a vessel to the Kandrian district in West New Britain.”
He said Rowland allegedly arranged the transfer of the ownership of mv Kandrian to Tol Coastal Shipping Services Ltd.
Meanwhile, the National Planning and Monitoring assistant secretary for economic and infrastructure division was arrested yesterday.
Jeffrey Yakopya had been charged by the sweep team in relation to a K14,609,126.03 paid out by the department in 2010.