Police serve court files to three DAL officials

By GEORGINA KOREI
POLICE have served files to three Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) officials charged with false pretence and conspiracy to defraud.
Justin Issack, lawyer representing Michael Waisime, 64, Graham Eliuda, 54, and Backsy Poka, 44, informed the court that the defendants were served their police files yesterday.
He asked the court’s leave for a month’s adjournment so he could make submissions to present at the next hearing
Issack said this would allow enough time to file for other necessary documents to attach with the submissions.
Waigani committal court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii advised Issack to state all the issues in just one submission rather than filing them separately.
Issack said the same case was also running in the National Court and was pending decision.
“This ongoing DAL matter has been ongoing with different proceedings running at the National and Supreme Courts,” he said.
Magistrate Nii told Issack that “the cases can run parallel as the rise and fall of one case cannot affect the other”.
“Unless you file an application in the National Court to stop this proceeding if there is an issue with it,” he said.
Issack added that he would also file an application to challenge the complainants in the case.
Police alleged that on Oct 19, 2021, Eliuda was working for DAL as finance and administration officer in the accounts section.
Knowing that the chief executive for PNG Spice Industry Board (PNGSIB) was Dr Nelson Simbiken, Eliuda conspired with Waisime and Poksa to facilitate a transaction that saw a sum of more than K80,000 dispersed into various accounts of employees of PNGSIB.
Simbiken and DAL secretary Stephen Mombi were not notified of the transaction and neither had signed the cheque.
The money was withdrawn with a Bank of South Pacific cheque (No.140450) and not the current one which was in the possession of Simbiken.