RTA boss accused of conspiracy

By GEORGINA KOREI
ROAD Traffic Authority (RTA) chief executive officer Nelson Terema is facing conspiracy charges in court for allegedly misusing K1.6 million belonging to RTA.
Waigani Committal Court magistrate Albert Daniels read out the charges to Terema and adjourned the case to May 2 for mention.
“You are out on bail and your bail is extended,” Magistrate Daniels told Terema.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Christian Iga informed the court that the arresting officer wanted to ask the court to withdraw the case.
“I was informed by the arresting officer that he wants the case to be withdrawn,” Iga told the court.
But Magistrate Daniels told Iga that if the arresting officer wanted to withdraw the case then he had to file proper applications and present them in court.
Terema’s lawyer made a verbal application to dismiss the charge to which the court refused. Magistrate Daniels then told the lawyer to file proper applications under the right provisions in law before presenting them in court.
It was alleged that between October and December 2020, Terema and William Penias, now working as vehicle registration manager for RTA, had conspired to misuse the K1.6 million.
Terema was initially appointed as CEO in 2016, however, his term of contract expired on Sept 28, 2020, after serving four years.
The National Executive Council then appointed Penias as the acting CEO for a period of three months effective from Sept 28, 2020, to Dec 27, 2020.
Within those three months, Terema was allegedly signing cheques illegally with Penias as acting CEO.
After the lapse of Terema’s contract of employment, he had no financial powers to sign cheques.
Terema surrendered to police on March 13 and was charged.