Kila Pat committed to trial

 By Tabitha Nero
Former Department of Lands and Physical Planning secretary Romilly Kila Pat and two colleagues facing conspiracy and misappropriation charges have been committed to trial in the National Court next month.
Kila Pat,  Simeon Andrew and Vavine Walo, all from Central, allegedly conspired to misappropriate K208,569.70 from the department on Sept 15, last year.
The amount was allegedly paid out of the department’s trust account to Bola Motors.
Magistrate Cosmos Bidar said there was sufficient evidence to commit the trio for trial on July 20 after they appeared at the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.
“The NEC (national executive council) suspended Kila Pat as the Lands secretary on Sept 3, 2015. But on Sept 14 and 17, he signed documents from which funds were withdrawn,” he said.
It was alleged that Andrew, who was the Lands corporate services director, raised a requisition on Sept 14 which was approved and signed by Kila Pat.
A cheque for K208,569.70 was allegedly raised from the Land Administration Reform Trust Account before it was endorsed and signed by Kila Pat and Walo, the department’s finance manager.
The cheque was paid to Bola Motors and withdrawn on September 17.
Kila Pat, Andrew and Walo will appear for mention at the National Court next month and their respective bails were extended.