Zarriga faces fraud charges

By JACOB POK
FORMER secretary of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring Ruby Zarriga has been charged with misappropriation and conspiracy to defraud the state.
She was released on a K1,000 bail following her arrest on Tuesday by members of the Investigation Task Force Sweep.
Zarriga’s arrest was in relation to a K10 million grant that was paid to Kokopo businessman, Eremas Wartoto to set up an airline company. 
The payment was made by the Department of National Planning when Zarriga was the acting secretary.
Wartoto was earlier charged with misappropriation of a K7 million district services improvement programme funds, intended for the Keravat National High School rehabilitation project which was held at the National Planning department.
He is on a K5,000 bail.
The arrests were made by members of the Investigation Task Force Sweep, an investigation team tasked by the government to investigate allegations of corruption in the National Planning Department.
The team also arrested former Madang MP Alois Kingsley last week and charged him with the  misappropriation of K6.6 million, part of a K125 million treasury bill. He is also on a K5,000 bail.
Chairman of the Task Force Sweep Sam Koim said the criminal process had started on those who were arrested.
He pointed out that “as a matter of law, they are innocent until proven guilty by the courts.”