MP pleads not guilty
The National, Monday April 28th, 2014
KOMO-Margarima MP Francis Potape has pleaded not guilty in the National Court to fraud-related charges involving K330,000 of State funds.
Potape denied all the charges laid against in the Waigani National Court last Friday before Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika.
The state alleged that Potape personally used K60,000 of State funds and misappropriated another K270,000 for the use of others.
Potape is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud the State under the Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee by passing a resolution to increase sitting allowances.
The State alleged that the committee resolved to increase the sitting allowance from K25 per day to K5,000 per day, breaching legislation under the Salary Remuneration Commission.
The State alleged that the committee did not have the authority to increase sitting allowances.
The sitting allowance paid to Potape and others was taken from the Komo-Magarima district treasury operational account.
The offences allegedly took place in November 2010 at Tari. The Department of Treasury noticed the discrepancies in the payments.
The State’s first witness, Jack Bagita told the court that only the Salary Remuneration Commission could approve the increase in sitting allowances. It is chaired by the Speaker.
The State is expected to call eight witnesses during the trial.