National Court adjourns MP’s case

 By HENRY PAMBUAI 

BOGIA MP John Hickey’s case involving fraud-related charges before the National Court has been adjourned to March 7 for further mention. 

Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika made the adjournment after the accused appeared briefly for mention in Waigani yesterday.

He called on all parties concerned including Hickey’s lawyer and the State lawyer to prepare pretrial review statements.

Sir Gibbs said a bail review and a pretrial conference would coincide in the meantime before the date of the next mention.

While extending Hickey’s bail to March 7, Sir Gibbs told the accused to discuss with his legal representative from Gamoga Lawyers to properly prepare for the case.

In December last year, the Bogia MP was referred to the National Court by Waigani committal court Magistrate Mekeo Gauli to face charges of official corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation after he found that there was sufficient evidence.

Hickey was charged with official corruption after he allegedly excluded three Bogia local level government presidents from the joint district planning and budget priorities committee meeting and allowed three ordinary members to sit in where a resolution to purchase a ship worth K700,000 was passed.

The second charge of abuse of office related to the accused allegedly using his position as chairman of the committee to cause a cheque payment of K680,000 to be made payable to Kapale Ltd – a company owned by Hickey’s adopted son.

Police alleged that this was done without adhering to proper tender procurement processes and procedures stipulated under the Public Finances Management Act.