Scam by ex-housing staff revealed

By JEFFREY ELAPA
A former National Housing Corporation staff is going around with an NHC stamp and letterhead to con people into giving him money.
Housing Minister John Kaupa told Parliament the former officer (named) had been transferring houses to people when he did not have the authority to do so.
He was responding to questions from Tewai-Siassi MP Dr Kobby Bomareo in relation to the eviction of tenants at Boundary Road in Lae when there was a moratorium in place for any forceful eviction from NHC houses.
Kaupa said the Boundary Road eviction was one of those believed to be done by the former NHC officer.
He said he had asked his officers to verify whether the eviction was proper or not.
Kaupa said he found that the former officer had been carrying around an NHC stamp and letterhead to conduct illegal activities, not only in Lae but in other parts of the country, including Daru.
“I have instructed every NHC branch to look out for this person who is going around conducting the illegal activity,” he said.
“The same person also conducted another illegal activity and forced an eviction in Daru.
“He was brought to Port Moresby and belted up and locked up at the Gordon police cells. I don’t know how he escaped and conducted other illegal activities.”
Kaupa also thanked Cabinet for approving the new NHC board.
In response to a supplementary question from Menyamya MP Thomas Pelika, Kaupa said he had no power to regulate housing rental rates in the country.