Tomuriesa, wife’s case adjourned

By BOURA GORUKILA
KIRIWINA-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa and wife Rachael will wait for their lawyers to complete submissions on sufficiency of evidence on their fraud-related charges.
Allan Baniyamai has completed his submission but David Dotaona needs a week to make his before they could be served to police for a reply.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Tracy Ganaii yesterday adjourned the case to Nov 9.
The Tomuriesas were back in court over the fraud-related charges struck out last year because police had not completed investigations.
The two were re-arrested on Feb 28 after police finally managed to complete their case files.
Douglas, 51, of Losuia village in Kiriwina-Goodenough, Milne Bay is facing false pretence, misappropriation and money laundering charges.
Rachael, 52, of Kolonoboi village, Namatanai in New Ireland, is defending herself against misappropriation and money laundering.
Police alleged that the two colluded with former South Fly MP Sali Subam, district official Andrew Marubu and others to apply to their own use and the use of Quick Span Building systems Ltd, a sum of K6 million belonging to South Fly district.
The Finance Department had allocated K6 million to South Fly for the construction of homes for health workers.
But it was allegedly changed during a joint district planning and budget priority committee meeting in Nov 2011 to use the money for another project.
Their bails were extended.