Manam resettlement misappropriation cases moved to Madang

ALL committal proceedings in relation to an alleged misappropriation of the Manam resettlement authority (MRA) funds have been transferred from the Ramu District Court to Madang District Court.
Included in this was a stay order against the recent warrant of arrest taken by police.
Assistant Police Commissioner for Northern command Peter Guinness said the Ramu District Court on Monday when deliberating on the preliminary issues ordered that both cases would be transferred to Madang District Court.
A recent warrant of arrest was taken against Madang Governor Peter Yama by police in relation to the same allegation, however, a district court stay order was taken against it at Ramu District Court to stay the warrant of arrest.
Both cases will now be heard on Aug 18 in the Madang District Court.
In the first case, it was alleged that nine senior officials with the provincial administration in Madang were involved in misappropriating K6 million given to the Madang administration to manage on behalf of MRA for displaced Manam islanders at care centres in Bogia.
Police arrested the nine officials in late May and early June.
Police say all suspects were charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud, with additional charges of abuse of public office and breaching processes and procedures of Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).