State wants Yopo jailed 5-7 years for misappropriation

By BEVERLY PETER
THE State says former National Airport Corporation (NAC) managing director Richard Yopo should be jailed five to seven years for misappropriation.
State lawyer Samantha Mosoro made the submission at the Waigani National Court yesterday on the grounds that it was a serious breach of trust by a senior NAC officer.
“The misappropriation involved a car costing more than K128,000 being misappropriated for over seven years,” she said.
“NAC has spent K128,580.39 on a vehicle which was never registered under its own name and not used by the company.”
She added: “For the regularity of this matter, we submit a term of five to seven years’ imprisonment as appropriate.”
Yopo’s lawyer Myron Ipape argued that Yopo’s case was not a worse case of misappropriation and asked the court to impose a non-custodial punishment with conditions or fine.
“The car was in Yopo’s possession from Aug 27, 2013 until Jan 31, 2020 which is about 6 years and four months.
“It was put into the intended official use despite having the car registered under Yopo’s name,” he said.
Ipape said the NAC was not affected as the car was used for its intended purpose which was to do NAC’s job.
“Yopo has expressed his remorse and apologised to the court for taking its time and resources and also seek court’s mercy as he is a first-time offender.
“He thought that the car was registered under his name because of the conversation he had with the former NAC managing director and chief executive officer Joseph Kintau earlier,” he added.
Ipape said Yopo had returned the car in good condition and was willing to pay any compensation or fine. On Aug 28, 2013, NAC bought a car for Yopo to use according to his contract as NAC general manager strategy unit.
A cheque for K128,580.39 was drawn from NAC to Ela Motors Ltd for the car and Ela Motors issued the receipt to Ricks Hire Car Ltd.
That car was then registered under Yopo’s name at Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd from 2013 to 2020 instead of issuing the receipt to NAC and registering it under National Airport Corporation.