One charged with theft of Aiyura Resi funds

National, Normal

THE government’s rehabilitation education sector infrastructure (Resi) programme has come under the spotlight with the arrest of a contractor for misappropriating K4 million earmarked for the rehabilitation of Aiyura National High School in the Eastern Highlands.
John Mauwe, principal of Mauwe Investments Ltd which was contracted for the job, was arrested and charged with 15 counts of misappropriation by the National and Anti-Corruption Division (NFACD) at Konedobu last Friday and has been remanded in custody.
NFACD director Det Chief Insp Timothy Gitua said on Nov 26 last year, the accused was at the National Planning Department and collected the payment for Aiyura National High School rehabilitation under the Resi programme.
He said the cheque was deposited in the accused’s company BSP account.
Gitua said Mauwe Investments Ltd, as the contractor, was required to renovate and carry out maintenance work on the school according to the scope of work.
Obura-Wonenara MP John Boito filed a complaint with the police fraud squad and the Ombudsman Commission, claiming that the school’s rehabilitation was poorly done and the K4 million allocated for its renovation was expended on other expenses not associated with rehabilitating the national high school.
Gitua said that on receiving the complaint, normal police investigation started.
He said investigation established that the accused operated a company that had an account with BSP and the accused was the owner and sole signatory to the company account.
Gitua said that upon expert opinion and physically visiting the school, police revealed that several areas
submitted with the scope of works were
not carried out and touched.
It was established that not more than K600,000 was spent on the renovation out of the K4 million.
He said Mauwe was interrogated, arrested and charged with 15 counts of misappropriation and was taken to the Boroko cells.
The accused is married with two wives and comes from Mebil in Sinasina-Yongomugl, Chimbu.
Boito, when contacted, welcomed the arrest, claiming that Resi funds, totalling K230 million, had not gone for their intended purposes.