Fraud chief: Officials who abuse their office face arrest

NATIONAL Fraud and Anti-Corruption (NFACD) director Mathew Damaru is concerned that people in authority are abusing their office to suppress investigations or pervert the course of justice.
“We (NFACD) will not hesitate to arrest and charge people who abuse their office to create incentive for corruption to flourish at workplaces by holding them accountable.”
Damaru said this yesterday after the arrest of Provincial and Local Level Government secretary Dickson Guina who was charged with one count of attempting to pervert course of justice.
Guina was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly suspending senior officers for reporting his relative Judy Guina Lamo to the fraud squad for allegedly misappropriating K64,754.99 from the department.
Damaru said Guina, 58, of Inuma village, Rigo, Central, was now out on K1,000 bail after being detained at the Boroko Police Station cells.
“Allegations against Guina emanated from the administrative actions he took against senior department officers for conducting an audit report and reporting their findings which implicated Judy Guina Lamo to NFACD,” he explained.
“Lamo was employed by the department in the accounts section as certifying officer.
“As a result of an audit report, the findings and report made to NFACD, investigation was conducted which resulted in the arrest of Lamo two months ago. Lamo is now before Waigani Committal Court.
“For reporting the matter to the police (NFACD) and providing witness statements, the senior officers were (allegedly) suspended by Guina.
“The suspended officers then reported the matter to NFACD for investigation, resulting in Guina’s arrest.
“He will now be appearing before the Waigani District Court for committal proceedings.”