Team to investigate claim K24mil misused at NSO

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A GOVERNMENT team headed by Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari will investigate an alleged misuse of K24 million in the National Statistical Office, with National Statistician Roko Koloma suspended pending the investigation.
Public Service Minister Elias Kapavore, pictured, said normally the Personnel Management Department Secretary would head an investigation of senior public servants for allegedly breaching the public service code of conduct.
“But for this case, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari will head the investigation team,” he said.
“Right now I can confirm that the National Executive Council has suspended Koloma pending full investigations,” he said.
Lupari’s team will be made up of a deputy secretary each from the departments of Finance, Justice and Attorney-General and Prime Minister and National Executive Council.
Michael Kumung, the acting Registrar-General of the PNG Civil and Identity Registry, will be acting National Statistician for the next three months.
“He has a solid background in development statistics and has a master’s degree in the area statistics,” Kapavore said.
Noel Mobiha, a project officer with the National Planning Department, will be the acting director-general of the PNG CIRO and NID project.
Meanwhile, Port Moresby Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Drasal is disappointed with Koloma for ignoring a request by police to be interviewed.
“I am very disappointed with him. He is a leader and should adhere to our request to come in for an interview over the allegations of the abuse of over
K24million from the NSO accounts,” he said.