Police close in on land deals

 MORE State land in Lae is under police investigation to ensure people who claim ownership are genuine, Met Supt Iven Lakatani says.

They have to prove they obtained the land legally and have proper titles.

Shama Ltd obtained a restraining order to prevent the police fraud squad from investigating the ownership over allotment 70, section 7 in Shanghai St.

The company is at loggerheads with RG Transport Ltd managing director Captain Roy Griffiths and the Morobe provincial government over the piece of land for four years. Shama Ltd also restrained any fixtures and development on the land on May 18. 

Lakatani confirmed the case was referred to the police fraud squad to verify the genuine title holder. 

“Ownership issue of allotment 70, section 7, Shanghai Street is complex and suspicious.” he said.

“Complex in a sense that both parties (Shama and RG Transport) were claiming ownership. That requires investigations to reveal the facts and suspicions that the property was transferred to three different people at certain intervals.”

Papers showed that Huston Regazolli, of Boroko, had ownership on Feb 1, 2010 at 9.54am and entered ownership on Feb 11, 2010.

The property was transferred to Peapi Kuri Koim of Lae, produced on Feb 1, 2010 at 9.56am and entered Feb 11, 2010. 

At 9.58am, the same property was transferred to Shama Ltd, produced Feb 1, 2010 and entered Feb 11, 2010.

Morobe deputy administrator district infrastructure Patilias Gamato said earlier transfer documents of the property were lodged with the Office of the Internal Revenue Commission for stamp duty and was approved in June 23, 1983.

It was then lodged with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning for ministerial approval on Feb 5, 1984.

The final registration of transaction for State Lease Volume 95, Folio 97, allotment 70, and section 7 did not eventuate at the Registrar of Titles and files went missing.

The provincial government then engaged former Deputy Registrar of Titles Taison Asizo to try to restore the title of the property.

Griffiths and the provincial government came into a joint venture agreement to utilise the land for business purposes. After realising a flaw on Jan 26, 2012,Asizo summoned the three transferees to produce original owner’s copy of State lease and title.

“Otherwise, it was deliberate and fraudulently executed,” Asizosaid.

Lakatani said that police would pursue the Shanghai land case and other suspicious State land issues.