Officers’ cases adjourned for submissions on sufficiency of evidence

THE cases of two senior police officers were adjourned to Aug 19 for submissions on sufficiency of evidence.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii at the Waigani Committal Court adjourned cases of dismissed assistant commissioner of police (human resource) Sylvester Kalaut and former director of human resource Bob Visikela Kerry after both confirmed receipt of their hand-up briefs yesterday morning.
Kalaut 44, of Walis Island in Wewak, East Sepik, is facing two counts each of dishonestly applying and conspiring to defraud.
He is also facing another charge of abuse of office and attempting to pervert the course of justice in another matter, but files to that matter are yet to be completed.
Kalaut also raised concern in court that the files needed to be compiled promptly so the matter could be dealt with all at once.
Co-accused Kerry, 56, of Wingei No2 in Yangoru-Saussia, East Sepik, was also charged with two counts each of dishonestly applying and conspiring to defraud.
Kalaut and Kerry were alleged to have colluded and signed cheques over K900,000 belonging to pensioners and kept in the Police Pension Suspense Account (PPSA).
They were both alleged to have, between Dec 21, 2018, and last Oct 25, at the police headquarters, defrauded the state by raising claims to settle their outstanding’s through item PGAS 114 or IFMS 215.
Police said both men knew the money held with the PPSA belonged to pensioners with personal account issues but they failed to address the issue.
Brief facts stated that on Oct 29, 2018, Kalaut wrote to BSP requesting to change signatories to the PPSA and it was approved.
Kalaut, Kerry and one Lucy Thomas were official signatories as of Nov 20, 2018.
After being made signatories, they both alledgedly colluded and signed cheques totalling K948,815.67.
Kalaut personally benefited with K28,800 while Kerry benefited K10,000, according to police brief.
The men, in less than a month, made commitments and expenditures of K565,907 to cover costs associated with the pension audit beginning last January.
Last year, Kalaut and Kerry allegedly diverted funds from PPSA for:

• K64,383.86 overtime for HR management staff;
• K256,706.95 HR awareness;
• K32,925 medical expenses; and,
• K29,892 advances and other costs all totalling K383,907.81.

Both defendants, as signatories, were directly responsible for pension matters and diverted State funds totalling K948,815.67.
Kerry was arrested on May 16 and Kalaut on May 17 and detained at Boroko Police Station before being released on bail.
Their bails were extended.