Woman gets 4 years for stealing K64,000 from fire service funds

By CLARISSA MOI
A 43-YEAR-OLD woman who misappropriated more than K64,000 in public funds was jailed four years by the Waigani National Court on Friday.
Acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi told Judy Lamo Guina, of Alepa village in Rigo, Central: “Public officials such as the offender in their corrupt conduct do nothing more than contribute to the ever-growing frustration of our people who continue to be told that there is no money for basic services.”
Guina was employed by the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs within the finance and administration branch as a certifying officer and also a counter-signing officer.
The PNG Fire Service and the National Disaster Centre are managed by the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs.
Between April 1 and Oct 31, 2013, she processed cheques paid out in cash to a Nathan John Sule and a company named Our Real Estate who were not service providers.
“There were no supporting documents justifying the payment, the funds were drawn from the PNG Fire Service board,” Justice Wawun-Kuvi said.
“The offender’s (Lamo) fraudulent activities were discovered during an internal audit.
“By then, she had misappropriated a sum of K64,754.99.
“While the offender and her family say that her action was a mistake, they were not because the activity was carried out systematically in a period of almost seven months.
“It was a conscious decision by the offender to take money from her employer.
“The only reason she stopped was because she was caught.
“It is this type of indifference that allows corruption to flourish in our country.
“This was not a typing mistake or incorrectly paying the wrong service provider.
“This was a calculated and deliberate act by the offender to abuse the trust placed on her by her employer.
“She took advantage of the weak financial system within the department to commit the fraud.
“The victim is the PNG Fire Service.
“It is an emergency service.
“To take money from this service is to take money needed to purchase essential equipment such as hoses, fire hydrants and many other items that are required to put out fire, which saves lives and properties.”
Justice Wawun-Kuvi added in her judgment that this offence was prevalent and that a clear message must be communicated to the community and like-minded individuals who held position of trust and decide to abuse it that this type of behaviour could not be overlooked.
She suspended Lamo’s two years with conditions.
Lamo will serve the balance in Bomana prison.
“The offender, once released, will be placed on probation for the period of the suspension and she shall comply with conditions stipulated in the probation order,” Justice Wawun-Kuvi said.