Public servant back in court on fraud charge

By JIMMY KALEBE
A SENIOR public servant who had his misappropriation charges struck out in December was hauled before a Lae court yesterday.
This followed the tendering in court of the accused’s file by police.
Fifty-year-old Billy Amakua, of Siwea village in Sialum, Tewai-Siassi, Morobe, appeared on a court bail of K2,000.
At the time of his initial arrest, the accused was the chief executive officer of the Tewai-Siassi district development authority.
He was charged with one count of misappropriation and another of abuse of office.
In court yesterday, magistrate Pious Tapil told Amakua that he was required to make a submission to the court by the next adjournment date on the sufficiency of the evidence provided by police.
The court was adjourned to April 19 for mention.
It was alleged that during his employment, Amakua had misappropriated K1 million, money belonging to the Tewai-Siassi district, between Sept 3, 2016 and Dec 31, 2016.
It was alleged that the accused had abused his section 32 powers and approved payments totalling K1 million to various contractors and service providers without following proper supply and tendering process.
The money, police reports claimed, was for the district’s finance office.
The accused was also ordered to ensure copies of his submission on the sufficiency of the evidence be made available to police and the court during the April 19 adjournment.
Amakua first appeared in court on Oct 18 last year and the case was struck out on Dec 13 after the police file was not ready.
Yesterday, he was re-arrested with new information laid by police.
Police prosecutor Sgt Vincent Suakai tendered the police file in court with copies served to the defendant.