High court acquits senior cop of conspiracy charge

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The National, Tuesday 09th April, 2013

 By ELIAS NANAU

A SENIOR police officer has been acquitted by the Waigani National Court for alleged conspiracy, false pretence and misappropriation charges. 

His co-accused, a female, will however be tried on misappropriation charges.

Justice George Manuhu allowed Kabib Lamu, the director for police public safety and policing, to go free and his bail refunded.

He said evidence failed to show beyond any reasonable doubt that Lamu benefited from any money. 

He said it contradicted the contention by the state that Lamu, with criminal intention, approved the release of the funds totaling K16,233.77. It was for the overseas travel allowance to Australia for his deputy Maria John.

John is also being implicated but the conspiracy and false pretence charges have been dropped.

Manuhu said the state alleged that John was to attend a month-long course in Australia which Lamu approved in two written minutes. However, John spent only a week overseas.

The state alleged that Lamu had criminal intent to approve John’s month-long travel allowances although she would be overseas for only a week.

Manuhu said the contentions by the state were overshadowed by a number of factors.

He said the minutes showed no evidence of a relationship between Lamu and John except through work and there was no evidence that Lamu benefited.

Manuhu said manuals under the Public Finance Management Act allowed officers to acquit funds within 14 days on return.

He said John’s case would now be on the non-acquittal of funds and to determine whether this could be concluded as misappropriation.