Possible new charges for lawyer

LAWYER Greg James Sheppard is expected to face new charges in the Waigani Committal Court in a fortnight after the police prosecution sought another adjournment to amend the current charges.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam sought the adjournment before magistrate Danny Wakikura on Thursday who ordered that the case to return on Aug 3 for mention.
Three other co-accused, Boston Kasiman, Anne Smerewai and Edna Oai, who were present in court, will also return on Aug 3.
The cases were transferred to Magistrate Wakikura who presided the case for the first time on Thursday.
Sgt Sangam informed the magistrate: “For Kasiman, he was not arraigned and he has 15 charges against him.
“For Sheppard, he was arraigned for conspiracy to defraud (two counts) and false pretence (two counts).
“He has not been arraigned for misappropriation (two counts) and money laundering (two counts).
“We are asking that all the matters be adjourned further.
“We have amended amendments to the charges.
“The other charge of misappropriation is fine except for money laundering.
“In fact, there has been some change in the section of the provision that he was charged with, and we
will be filling in with new information.”
Magistrate Wakikura told Sgt Sangam to finalise all amendments before Shepperd and Kasiman are arraigned.
Their bails were extended.
Their charges relate to payments totalling K268 million made to others whom they allegedly conspired with in using money belonging to the Western people’s dividend trust funds.
The money was for funding and implementation of development projects for community mine continuation agreement communities comprising 147,000-plus people from 158 villages in Western.