Gamato to defend charges

ELECTORAL Commissioner Patilias Gamato, pictured, is defending himself in court against charges of official corruption, dealing with criminal property and conspiracy to commit a crime.
He appeared before Magistrate Ernest Wilmot in the Committal Court at Waigani yesterday on allegations related to an incident Port Moresby in July 2017 during the general election.
Gamato, 53, from Sapa village in Huon Gulf, Morobe, was granted bail for K3,000 to re-appear in court on Nov 22.
The court was told that during a polling day in the National Capital District (NCD), there was a report that NCD Election Manager Terrence Hetinu was allegedly driving an Electoral Commission vehicle with a briefcase full of cash.
Police alleged that the total amount was K184,300.
Hetinu was later stopped by police who allegedly found the briefcase full of cash and a memorandum of agreement (MoA).
He allegedly told officers at the Boroko Police Station that the money had been was given to him by Gamato as the camping allowance of polling officials.
Hetinu also alleged that the MoA signed by him and two others had been left on his desk.
During a press conference on June 2, 2017, Gamato admitted that he was aware of the K184,300 cash that was to be paid to polling officials as their camping allowance.
Police alleged that sources in the electoral commission claimed that the commission had not received any funding in June 2017 to pay NCD polling officials as camping allowances.