Kapris names MPs in MRO's guilty plea

PRISON escapee William Nanua Kapris yesterday pleaded guilty to robbing cash and gold bars from the Metal Refining Operations (MRO), and named three politicians as having benefited from the proceeds of this crime, The National reports.

He named the three politicians as recently suspended Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch, Correctional Services Minister Tony Aimo and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Francis Marus.

Stolen from the MRO on Feb 14, 2007, were cash totalling K78, 000 and gold bars worth K2, 060,115.56.

Kapris claimed that the leaders used what he stole to buy properties along Orchards Street in Singapore in 2007.

He said the three MPs and a Malaysian businessman in Port Moresby, William Lee, had assured him not to worry about the MRO robbery proceeds in a restaurant in Gordon which they claimed they also owned.

Kapris pleaded guilty to the charge of armed robbery, but told the court there were no violence involved because insiders were involved.

He also told the court about his childhood background and upbringing in Kimbe, his initial jailing (for 15 years) in November 1997 for armed robbery in Kimbe, his transfer to Bomana, how he escaped and met his wife.

He said the MRO robbery was organised by a Alphonse Silas, or Alfie. Others he named as being involved included a Tom Gabi, who he said was a smelter; a Fiona Augerea, MRO’s marketing and sales representative; another MRO driver named Eocio; MRO security guard Joseph Tau and Jackson Sandy, who later drove the MRO bus with the loot from the robbery to a place in Waigani.

He said from the K78, 000 cash, 10 of them each got K7, 500.

He said Alfie and Lee took care of the sales of the gold bars.

In April 2007, Kapris flew to Lae and stayed there for four month.

He said he rang to complain about why he did not get anything from the sales and proceeds of the stolen MRO gold bars.

Then, in August 2007, Lee arranged for him to fly to Singapore for a month, returning on Sept 10.

He said while he was in Singapore, he was shown some properties bought from the use of the gold stolen from MRO.

He also questioned why others heavily involved in the MRO robbery, such as Alfie, remained free. 

The hearing on the matter continues today.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Gari Baki said last night police would investigate all the allegations made in court yesterday by Kapris.

Baki said police would leave no stone unturned in their investigations.

He said the claims were made before and were not new.