Police look for Chinese in alleged K1m fraud

 POLICE in Port Moresby are looking for a Chinese national implicated in a “massive fraud” investigation after he failed to turn up in court in the past two weeks.

National Capital District-Central Commander Assistant Commissioner Sylvester Kalaut said Zhou Qianbin had been charged and was supposed to appear in court.

He was alleged to have committed the offence with his wife Ge Jiao Jiao. 

But Kalauta said the wife was allegedly helped by “corrupt Government officials to escape arrest and prosecution”.

Kalaut said police suspected that some law enforcement officers, immigration officials and airport security personnel helped the woman leave on a Philippine Airlines’ flight for Manila on Feb 4.

The matter is being investigated.

The couple, from China’s Fujian province, allegedly stole more than a K1 million from their employer. The husband was released on K5000 bail after he was charged with fraud on Jan 18. He disappeared after that, although Kalaut said his passport had been confiscated.

The company has cancelled his work permit, effectively rendering him as an illegal alien.

Kalaut said the couple worked for a firm and tasked to collect fees for visa and work permit applications for Chinese nationals looking for jobs in PNG. 

The two allegedly sent large sums of money overseas without the knowledge of the company directors, one of whom is a local.

The matter will return to court tomorrow.

Kalaut said anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Qianbin are to contact the office of the Commander NCD on 3244200 or Senior Constable Kila Tali on telephone 707-60-634.