NGCB boss charged with fraud

NATIONAL Gaming Control Board (NGCB) chief executive officer Imelda Agon has been charged with conspiring with a former MP to misappropriate K900,000 allocated for a hospital in Madang, police say.
Police special investigation team leader Sgt Elijah Aron said Agon was charged with defrauding and abusing her office to divert the money allocated for the Yagaum Rural Hospital to the Madang district treasury operating account on December 28, 2012.
It was part of the K1.2 million approved by the NGCB for the hospital.
Agon, 49, from Tufa village in Kavieng, New Ireland, was granted bail to appear before the Waigani District Court for committal proceedings.
Sgt Aron said in December 2011, a project submission of K1.2 million for the Yagaum Rural Hospital was submitted to the NGCB, which paid an initial K300,000 to the hospital’s bank account on May 2, 2012.
The hospital administration then bought an X-Ray machine and an ultra-sound scanner.
But Agon allegedly prevented the transfer of the remaining balance of K900,000 to the hospital’s account.
She allegedly diverted the money to the Madang district treasury operating account.