Western administrator charged with abuse of office

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WESTERN administrator Robert Alphonse Kaiyun was arrested and charged with abuse of office by police on Sunday.
Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Det Chief Supt Matthew Damaru said Kaiyun, 52, from Karemgo village, North Fly in Western, was expected to appear at the Waigani Committal Court this week for mention.
Police alleged that on Dec 13, 2018, Kaiyun on behalf of the Fly River government, signed a three-year office lease agreement with New Century City Ltd and the Fly River government.
The office space in question is located at Section 2, Lot 59 at Kiunga town in Western. Police allege that the value of the lease agreement is valued at K330,000 per month which equates to K3.9 million per year.
Police allege that the contract agreement valued at K11.8 million for three years starting on Jan 1, 2019 to Dec 31, 2021 was signed by Kaiyun on behalf of the Fly River government which was beyond his powers as provincial administrator. Police stated that as provincial administrator, Kaiyun could only sign for procurement contracts valued at K500,000 and as the chairman of the Provincial Supplies and Tenders Board (PSTB).
Police stated that according to the National Procurement Act 2018 and the Public Finance Management Act, the provincial procurement board threshold was K5 million.
Police alleged that the office lease contract signed by New Century City Ltd and the Fly River was contrary to the National Procurement Act and was void from the moment of execution.