Three men, woman charged in K2.3mil Koiari deal

By Alphonse Porau
Three men and a woman charged for misappropriating K2.3 million belonging to landowners in Koiari, Central, appeared in court yesterday.
Kereva Moio, 43, Ruth Ureki, 54, Saroa Beredi, 46, and Willie Abari, 46, all from Koiari in the Kairuku-Hiri District, were charged with a count each of conspiracy and misappropriation.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Dessie Magaru read the charges to the defendants and adjourned the case to Feb 14 for police to complete their files.
The court head that the defendants allegedly applied to their own use K2.3 million belonging to the Omani and Narime clans presented by the Rouna Incorporated Land Group of lower Koiari.
The court heard that on Oct 23, 2017, a sum of K8.9 million was deposited into the Lower Koiari Limited bank account from the National Court trust account following a memorandum of understanding signed between by land groups.
The money was from the disputed K10 million which was parked in the National Court trust account.
It was alleged that this money was never distributed to the three land groups of the Omani, Narime and Behori clans from lower Koiari area but put to personal use.
The complaint was lodged by Rouna Incorporated Group representing the Omani and Narime clans.