Kalaut, Kerry to face trial

By BOURA GORUKILA
DISMISSED Assistant Commissioner of Police (human resource) Sylvester Kalaut and former director human resource Bob Visikela Kerry have been committed to trial in the National Court over fraud charges relating to the use of policemen’s savings.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii at the Waigani Committal Court yesterday found sufficient evidence against them and adjourned the matter to Nov 17 for their section 96 statements.
Kalaut 44, of Walis Island in Wewak, East Sepik, is facing two counts each of dishonestly applying and conspiring to defraud.
Co-accused Kerry, 56, of Wingei No.2 in Yangoru-Saussia, East Sepik, was also charged with two counts each of dishonestly applying and conspiring to defraud.
Magistrate Ganaii said 19 witness statements had been tendered as evidence.
“Police case comprises of 19 witnesses, the main witness being Police Commissioner David Manning and the balance of the witnesses are RPNGC officers and chief auditor Frank Baloiloi,” she said.
“I have considered defence submissions and have found that it is something for the trial judge to determine.
“For the offence of abuse of office in their capacity as police officers, both did not comply with directions of then police Commissioner Gari Baki, therefore have abused their powers.
“For the offence of misappropriation, police are saying that the monies that police say were alleged to have being misapplied were monies supposed to have been used to pay pensions.
“On conspiracy, police are saying both have known what the money was for as a result both have conspired.
“For those reasons, I find sufficient evidence, prima facie on all three charges,” Magistrate Ganaii said.
Both Kalaut and Kerry were alleged to have colluded and signed cheques well over K900,000 belonging to pensioners, kept in the Police Pension Suspense Account (PPSA.
They were both alleged to have between Dec 21, 2018 and Oct 25, 2019, at police headquarters defrauded the state by raising claims through item PGAS 114 or IFMS 215. Police alleged that both men knew that money held with the PPSA belonged to pensioners with personal account issues.
Brief facts stated that on Oct 29, 2018, Kalaut wrote to the BSP requesting to change signatories to the PPSA and it was approved.
Kalaut, Kerry and Lucy Thomas were official signatories as of Nov 20, 2018.
After being made signatories they both colluded and signed cheques totalling K948,815.67.
Kalaut personally benefited K25,800 while Kerry benefited K10,000 according to police brief facts.
Kerry was arrested on May 16 and Kalaut on May 17, 2020, escorted to Boroko police station and detained but later released on bail.
Their bails were extended.