Lawyer denies involvement in misusing funds

The National National
Lawyer Ben Lomai (thrid right) being escorted by the fraud squad police officers outside Madang Airport last Thursday. – Picture supplied

SENIOR lawyer Ben Lomai says he never received money from funds set aside for the Manam Restoration Authority (MRA).
The 56-year-old from Manus was arrested in Madang airport on Thursday and slapped with two charges.
Madang commander acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang said Lomai’s arrest by the Momase Fraud Squad was in relation to misappropriation of the MRA Funds.
He added that Lomai was charged with one count of misappropriation and one count of money laundering. He said K397,500 from the Manam Resettlement Funds were transferred to a company which he was also part of.
Lomai was out on K2,000 police bail and would appear for first mention in the Madang court today (Sept 20).
Speaking from Madang yesterday, Lomai said the K397,500 were paid to a company, CJI (PNG) Limited which he helped registered in 2016.
He said he distanced himself from the company as a director and shareholder in 2018 due to conflict of interest.
He added: “Money (K397,500) never went into my account.
“I was a non-active secretary until 2019 (left CJI). I knew Governor (Peter Yama) well, so I resigned from the company.
“They (police) thought that the money was paid from the MRA funds into CJI.
“I told them (police) you must investigate properly. You (police) must establish if I know money came from MRA funds, I must personally deal with the money.”