Public money collector accused of stealing K46,000 to go on trial

A PUBLIC money collector has been committed to stand trial in the National Court for allegedly misusing more than K46,000 in public funds two years ago.
Magistrate Paul Nii told the Waigani Committal Court on Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence to commit Emily Morea, 61, of Mukawa village in Alotau, Milne Bay.
Morea was alleged to have dishonestly applied to her own use K46,800 belonging to the Department of Finance between Dec 19 and 24, 2019.
She was arrested on June 25 and charged with misappropriation.
Morea was employed by the Finance Department as a public money collector based at Boroko police station when she allegedly committed the offence.
She did not rerun the money but instead gave it to a group called Private Placement Programme.
The group promised to pay back the money before the end of December 2019 but did not.
She admitted to the allegation during a police interview.
Morea said in August 2020, she paid back K14,600 and another K5,600 in June which brought the total of repayment to K20,200 leaving a balance of K26,600 to be paid back.