Graft probe into MP done

By BEVERLY PETER
POLICE prosecution has informed court that investigation into alleged official corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy case against South Fly MP Sekie Agisa is complete.
Agisa was charged with attempting to misappropriate K400,000 belonging National Airport Corporations (NAC) in Port Moresby two years ago when he was the Civil Aviation Minister. Police Prosecutor John Wamugl on mentioning the case before magistrate Danny Wakikura at a Waigani committal court yesterday, said the police hand-up brief was completed and awaiting numbering and binding.
“We are requesting only for a two-week adjournment to finalise the file and have it served,” Wamugl said.
Magistrate Wakikura then set April 12 for mention to check on police file and further extended Agisa’s bail.
Police alleged that on March 9, 2021 Agisa directed suspended NAC managing director Rex Kiponge in a letter to have the ministerial funds transferred to another account.
Kiponge, on Agisa’s instruction, allegedly directed his general finance manager to make the payment into that account as Agisa had indicated.
The proposed account that the money was supposed to send to was a Kina Bank account.
Police in the summary of facts stated that the general finance manager approved K200,000 to be transferred to that account on March 26, 2021 on instructions from Agisa and Kiponge.
However, the money was not transferred due to technical issues with the account.
It was further alleged that a second attempt was made on April 30, 2021 to transfer another K200,000 to the same account.
The money was never sent through.
The summary of facts also stated that the NAC board did not approve any budget for 2021.
Police said there were no provisions under the Public Finance Act, Civil Aviation Act or NAC in the constitution allowing private firms to manage ministerial funds.