Public servant facing fraud-related charges

A PUBLIC servant is facing fraud-related charges over the alleged reinstatement of National Housing Commission staff whose employment had either been suspended or terminated.
Commission managing director Kenneth Cooke, 51, from Hula village in Rigo, Central appeared before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar at the Committal Court in Waigani charged with abuse of office, official corruption and fraudulent uttering.
It was alleged that in May this year, Cooke had abused his authority as the managing director by falsely issuing official minutes of the commissions to reinstate “one suspended staff member and three terminated staff members”.
The alleged offences happened at the commission headquarters at Tokarara in Port Moresby.
The alleged false minutes were issued on May 14.
The suspended staff member was identified in the court papers as Artha Pea and the three sacked were Gabriel Gore, Edwin Oropa, and Alphonse Kaiki.
Cooke was arrested and charged on July 1.
Magistrate Bidar said they were mere allegations at this stage and therefore extended Cooke’s bail.
The case returns on Aug 13 for mention.