Suspended boss to stand trial

By KARO JESSE
SUSPENDED National Airports Corporation (NAC) managing director Richard Yopo has been committed to stand trial in the National Court on a charge of misappropriation.
This follows an ex-officio indictment issued by Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin after a committal court proceeding against him was dismissed.
Yopo was arrested and charged with stealing, misappropriation, abuse of office, official corruption and attempting to pervert the course of justice last August following investigations by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.
However, Magistrate Ernest Wilmot dismissed the case on Feb 12, on technical grounds.
The case was then referred to the public prosecutor in which substantive evidence on the charge of misappropriation was found against Yopo.
Further on the indictment, it alleged that Yopo dishonestly applied to his own use and the use of others a motor vehicle five-door Toyota Land Cruiser valued at K128,000 – property of NAC
He was alleged to have registered the vehicle under his name at the time when NAC purchased the vehicle.
The indictment was presented before Justice Teresa Berrigan on Monday, in which Yopo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He is on a bail of K1,000 with conditions to sign in every Monday at the National Court and not to leave the province without leave of the court and not interfere with state witnesses.
Meanwhile, there are questions as to whether the NAC board will intervene to advertise the position of NAC managing director since Yopo has now being formally committed to stand trial.
Unfortunately, an ongoing civil court proceeding has barred the NAC board from taking steps against Yopo who has been on suspension for the last 15 months with full pay. Currently, NAC pays the same salary to the current acting managing director, Ephraim Wasem, and Yopo.
The case returns on Nov 2.