Former member charged

 POLICE in Port Moresby have charged former Laigaip-Por­gera MP Philip Kikala with four counts of misappropriation involving more than K1 million.

Police alleged that Kikala, of Aiyak village in Laiagam, Enga, received K1,107,100 from the office of rural development and implementation through a company called West Rural Industries Ltd between March and June 2012.

Police said Kikala registered the company with the Investment Promotion Authority on Jan 19, 2011.

Police found out that the use of the funds were to be decided at the joint district planning and budget planning committee meetings attended by presidents of the five LLGs in Lagaip-Porgera district in Enga with Kikala as chairman. 

Police alleged that there were no committee meetings conducted to discuss the allocation of the fund.

Police said the company was paid K790,000 on March 6, K80,000 on March 12, 2012, K128,000 on April 19, 2012 and K109,100 on May 8, 2012.