NAC boss charged with abuse of office, assault, deprivation

AN Official of the National Airport Corporation (NAC) appeared before the Waigani Committal Court yesterday and was charged with abuse of office, assault and deprivation of liberty.
Before Magistrate Garry Unjo was NAC acting managing director Rex Kiponge, 42 of Tarlos village, Kompiam-Ambum, Enga, for allegedly abusing another official Ephraim Wasem. On the first charge, it was alleged that on Dec 2, 2019, police officer Eddie Aimundi approached NAC fleet coordinator Walter Vele to refuel a vehicle.
Vele asked him for some form of approval from NAC management but Aimundi was alleged to have lied saying that there was a verbal approval from the general manager – finance. When Vele found out that this was not true, Aimundi allegedly contacted Kiponge and the latter allegedly directed Vele to refill Aimundi’s vehicle with 40 litres of fuel.
Thereafter to allow the vehicle to continue to the NAC fuel bowser.
The refuelling recording shows that from Dec 2, 2019, to March 9, 2020, a private vehicle had received 1,155 litres of petrol valued at K3,465. On the second and third charges, it was alleged that on Oct 22, 2020, between 4pm and 5pm, at the Gateway Hotel car park in 7-Mile, Port Moresby, Kiponge allegedly assaulted Wasem when he (Wasem) was trying to get on his vehicle after being told by Police to go to the station.
Wasem was invited by police to go to the station but he allegedly asked them if he could go in his own vehicle.
Kiponge allegedly approached Wasem, grabbed him by his neck and his belt, attempted to lift him and throw him into the vehicle.
The scuffle lasted some minutes until a police officer intervened.
Wasem is currently out on a bail for K500 and will return to court on April 15.