Man convicted in K50,000 scam

THE Waigani National Court has convicted a man for obtaining by false pretence a hire vehicle for K50,400 during last year’s general elections.
In court was Richard Budu. Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said Budu could have paid the hire-car company and saved the matter from going to court.
Sir Gibbs adjourned the matter to the 8th of next month for sentencing and extended Budu’s K2000 bail.
The court allowed the defence lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office to prepare a pre-sentence report and a means assessment report with the probation officers.
The court heard that during last year’s general election, Budu’s friends introduced him to a man who had vehicles for hire.
It was alleged that after negotiations, both parties agreed that Budu would hire a car for K600 a day on credit basis for 16 days.
Budu had claimed that he was having some problems with his new account at his bank and that a company called Trans Wonderland Ltd would pay him some money.
Once the company made the payment to his bank account, he would complete the outstanding payment. The court heard that Budu paid K1000 and took the car.
After some weeks Budu went back to the owner of the car and changed the vehicle. He told the owner he would pay his outstanding bill once he got his money.
The court heard that Budu used the vehicles for 84 days without any payment and owed the owner K50,400.