Man to stand trial for abuse of office and theft

The Waigani Committal Court has found enough evidence to commit a Central man to trial at the National Court for abuse of office and misappropriation.
Kevin Unobo will appear before the National Court on Feb 12 next year while on bail.
Unobo was accused of purchasing a motor vehicle from Ela Motors for police use in preparations for the 2012 national election.
It was alleged that the money Unobo had used to buy the vehicle belonged to the Central administration.
The defendant was alleged to have converted the vehicle for his personal use.
Unobo was also accused of dishonestly applying to his own use K10,000 to purchase a seven-metre Yamaha boat and an additional K10,200 for a Yamaha 40hp outboard motor from Ela Motors Ltd.
The money belonged to the Central administration.
At the time the alleged offences, the defendant was employed as the Central provincial disaster and emergency coordinator.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar told the court that according to police investigations against the defendant 14 witness statements were obtained.
Bidar said the prosecution also relied on a number of documents that included marine and power product delivery forms from Ela Motors as well as the certificate of registration of a business name.
The business name was registered at the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and the defendant’s name was listed as a shareholder.
It is alleged that the documents of the business contained photographs of the vehicle, the boat and the outboard motor.