By JACOB POK
FORMER Madang MP Alois Kingsley was arrested in Kokopo, East New Britain, last week and charged with misappropriation while Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape and Pomio MP Paul Tiensten allegedly evaded scheduled police interviews, The National reports.
Kingsley was arrested at Tokua airport on the early hours of Thursday as he was about to board a flight to Port Moresby.
Police said Kingsley was taken to Kokopo police station for questioning and was formally charged and locked behind bars the same day. He was denied bail.
Kingsley's charges relate to misappropriating K6.6 million, part of a K125 million sovereign community infrastructure treasury bill (SCITB) issued by then treasury minister Patrick Pruaitch to Nasfund through National Capital Ltd for development in Kokopo district.
This was the first arrest relating to the SCITB funds, Sam Koim, chairman of the investigation task force sweep, said.
The task force was set up by the government to investigate allegations of corruption at the department of national planning and monitoring.
According to the investigating team, Kingsley was with Tiensten and Kokopo MP Patrick Tammur last Tuesday at the Queen Emma Lodge when Tiensten was served notice to attend a police interview.
Police said Tiensten allegedly fled Kokopo the next morning when he was expected to attend the
interview while Kingsley was arrested the following day.
Koim said there was an increasing incidence of flouting of due processes by persons of interest to police.
"Task force sweep, out of respect for people considered leaders of our country, has extended an inordinate amount of goodwill in dealing with such people.
"These people are national leaders who have vowed to uphold the constitution and the laws of PNG, including the very laws that empower the police to question persons suspected of a criminal offence.
"It makes a person's actions, albeit they are leaders, more suspicious when there is an ingrained, almost endemic resistance to investigations," Koim said.
He said because of repetitious incidences, police would now treat every suspect as common criminals under law.
"Police interview or questioning does not necessarily lead to arrest, unless a prima facie case is established and sufficient evidences to arrest.
"I therefore request these leaders to immediately report to the respective case officers for interview as requested," Koim said.
Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie also appealed to the leaders to voluntarily turn up for interviews when requested by police.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Angry crowd turns on Chimbu polly
THREE police officers saved the life of Chimbu Governor Fr John Garia when he was attacked by an angry mob in Gembogl, The National reports.
A large crowd had gathered there to celebrate PNG's 36th Independence anniversary last Friday. And part of the crowd turned on Garia, smashing his vehicle before burning it.
Eyewitnesses said Garia would have been killed if the police officers had not acted quickly to protect him.
The officers, attached with the Kundiawa police task force, were escorting newly-elected Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang to Gembogl.
He was there to address people on the maintenance of the Kundiawa-Gembogl road and the district services improvement programme funds.
Garia went to Gembogl at Kulang's invitation to explain to the people about road upgrading.
A Kundiawa task force vehicle arrived 30 minutes later to rescue the governor and bring him to Kundiawa.
Garia later said in Kundiawa that he could not understand the motive behind the attack on him.
Chimbu administrator Joe Kunda condemned the attack and called on police to investigate the incident.
The attack occurred less than a month after a separate attack on Defence Minister and Kerowagi MP Guma Wau by his own Dagle people at Moroma.
A large crowd had gathered there to celebrate PNG's 36th Independence anniversary last Friday. And part of the crowd turned on Garia, smashing his vehicle before burning it.
Eyewitnesses said Garia would have been killed if the police officers had not acted quickly to protect him.
The officers, attached with the Kundiawa police task force, were escorting newly-elected Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang to Gembogl.
He was there to address people on the maintenance of the Kundiawa-Gembogl road and the district services improvement programme funds.
Garia went to Gembogl at Kulang's invitation to explain to the people about road upgrading.
A Kundiawa task force vehicle arrived 30 minutes later to rescue the governor and bring him to Kundiawa.
Garia later said in Kundiawa that he could not understand the motive behind the attack on him.
Chimbu administrator Joe Kunda condemned the attack and called on police to investigate the incident.
The attack occurred less than a month after a separate attack on Defence Minister and Kerowagi MP Guma Wau by his own Dagle people at Moroma.
City residents mark 36 years of nationhood in peace
THE nation's capital experienced a colourful weekend since it began the 36th Independence anniversary celebrations last week, The National reports.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop made sure the spirit of independence was felt in all corners of the city.
The main celebration was held at the Jack Pidik Park in Gordon while other institutions such as the University of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Adventist University and Bomana Police Training College held similar celebrations to mark the special day.
Parkop officially opened the celebrations last Thursday.
The main activities held during the celebrations included float parades, live concerts that included gospel, local and traditional band performances, various sports activities, artifacts and crafts displays, commercial promotions by business houses and traditional dances by various provincial groups.
The Independence celebrations also coincided with the Hiri Moale Festival on Saturday, which saw a huge turn-out at the Ela Beach seafront and the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.
The celebrations were peaceful with good police presence and concluded on a high note on Saturday with fireworks displays and live music concerts at the Jack Pidik Park.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop made sure the spirit of independence was felt in all corners of the city.
The main celebration was held at the Jack Pidik Park in Gordon while other institutions such as the University of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Adventist University and Bomana Police Training College held similar celebrations to mark the special day.
Parkop officially opened the celebrations last Thursday.
The main activities held during the celebrations included float parades, live concerts that included gospel, local and traditional band performances, various sports activities, artifacts and crafts displays, commercial promotions by business houses and traditional dances by various provincial groups.
The Independence celebrations also coincided with the Hiri Moale Festival on Saturday, which saw a huge turn-out at the Ela Beach seafront and the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.
The celebrations were peaceful with good police presence and concluded on a high note on Saturday with fireworks displays and live music concerts at the Jack Pidik Park.
Happy 36th
By STAFF REPORTERS
INDEPENDENCE Day celebrations was marred in Chimbu's Gembogl district by an attempt on the life of Governor Fr John Garia by an angry mob, The National reports.
The quick action of three police officers saved Garia after a large crowd turned on him, smashing his vehicle before burning it.
Fr Garia said from Kundiawa last night that he was safe but did not understand the motives behind the attack.
Reports from the provinces last night indicated that other than the Gembogl incident, PNG celebrated the 36th anniversary of Independence peacefully.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was the man of the hour, presenting himself in Port Moresby, Goroka and Lae to sell his government's policies to capacity crowds.
At the flag raising on Independence Hill early last Friday, O'Neill repeated his pledge that the national government will allocate K300 million in the supplementary budget in November to free education and subsidised education starting next year.
To cheering crowds in Lae and Goroka later in the day, he announced that his government would introduce free education up to Grade 10 and subsidise school fees from year 11 to university level under next year's national budget.
"It is my firm belief that education is the key to the future growth of our country," he said.
"An educated society will be strong, vibrant and healthy. The amount of money we spend on education today will be repaid many times over by a healthy and educated population tomorrow.
"The burden of paying school fees up to Grade 10 will rest with government starting next year. An amount of about K300 million will be earmarked in the supplementary budget for this expenditure."
O'Neill said he had directed the Finance Department to remain open during the Christmas period to ensure funds for each school were transferred directly to them so the schools were prepared when the school year began in 2012.
He declared Lae "the most important city in PNG" because of its strategic importance to the economy. A huge crowd, more than in past celebrations, turned up at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.
At the National Sports Institute in Goroka, O'Neill said despite the advice of consultants to downsize the disciplined forces, the disciplined forces would be reviewed with the aim of doubling, or even tripling, their strength.
He said the increase in the manpower of the disciplined forces was necessary because Papua New Guinea's population was increasing and the government must address that.
He presented K2.7 million to projects in Goroka; among them the Goroka Secondary School and the NSI, which had their science laboratory building and a grandstand razed early this year. They received K5 million each.
The ongoing roads improvements in Goroka town received K5 million while the mobile clinic received K5 million. The Goroka Show Society received K700,000.
In Madang, hundreds of people including students, churches, disciplinary forces and private institutions marched in droves along Modilon Drive capturing the Independence spirit last Friday.
In East New Britain, Governor Leo Dion called on all people to stand together and fight the "evil of corruption" in the next 36 years and beyond.
"It is on this basis that we can chart out the destiny and prosperity of our country."
INDEPENDENCE Day celebrations was marred in Chimbu's Gembogl district by an attempt on the life of Governor Fr John Garia by an angry mob, The National reports.
The quick action of three police officers saved Garia after a large crowd turned on him, smashing his vehicle before burning it.
Fr Garia said from Kundiawa last night that he was safe but did not understand the motives behind the attack.
Reports from the provinces last night indicated that other than the Gembogl incident, PNG celebrated the 36th anniversary of Independence peacefully.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was the man of the hour, presenting himself in Port Moresby, Goroka and Lae to sell his government's policies to capacity crowds.
At the flag raising on Independence Hill early last Friday, O'Neill repeated his pledge that the national government will allocate K300 million in the supplementary budget in November to free education and subsidised education starting next year.
To cheering crowds in Lae and Goroka later in the day, he announced that his government would introduce free education up to Grade 10 and subsidise school fees from year 11 to university level under next year's national budget.
"It is my firm belief that education is the key to the future growth of our country," he said.
"An educated society will be strong, vibrant and healthy. The amount of money we spend on education today will be repaid many times over by a healthy and educated population tomorrow.
"The burden of paying school fees up to Grade 10 will rest with government starting next year. An amount of about K300 million will be earmarked in the supplementary budget for this expenditure."
O'Neill said he had directed the Finance Department to remain open during the Christmas period to ensure funds for each school were transferred directly to them so the schools were prepared when the school year began in 2012.
He declared Lae "the most important city in PNG" because of its strategic importance to the economy. A huge crowd, more than in past celebrations, turned up at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.
At the National Sports Institute in Goroka, O'Neill said despite the advice of consultants to downsize the disciplined forces, the disciplined forces would be reviewed with the aim of doubling, or even tripling, their strength.
He said the increase in the manpower of the disciplined forces was necessary because Papua New Guinea's population was increasing and the government must address that.
He presented K2.7 million to projects in Goroka; among them the Goroka Secondary School and the NSI, which had their science laboratory building and a grandstand razed early this year. They received K5 million each.
The ongoing roads improvements in Goroka town received K5 million while the mobile clinic received K5 million. The Goroka Show Society received K700,000.
In Madang, hundreds of people including students, churches, disciplinary forces and private institutions marched in droves along Modilon Drive capturing the Independence spirit last Friday.
In East New Britain, Governor Leo Dion called on all people to stand together and fight the "evil of corruption" in the next 36 years and beyond.
"It is on this basis that we can chart out the destiny and prosperity of our country."
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hami Yawari passes on
FORMER Southern Highlands governor Hami Yawari passed away at the Pacific International Hospital, Port Moresby, yesterday afternoon, The National reports.
He was admitted last Friday.
Reports said he had died from kidney complications.
Yawari was the governor from 2002-07 when he lost his seat to Anderson Agiru.
In his condolence message to the family, clan and tribe of Yawari, Agiru said: "It is sad for Southern Highlands to lose a good leader.
"It is sad because the provincial government had contributed K100,000 towards his medical expenses and, despite our efforts, he lost his life."
Agiru and Yawari have been political rivals.
He was admitted last Friday.
Reports said he had died from kidney complications.
Yawari was the governor from 2002-07 when he lost his seat to Anderson Agiru.
In his condolence message to the family, clan and tribe of Yawari, Agiru said: "It is sad for Southern Highlands to lose a good leader.
"It is sad because the provincial government had contributed K100,000 towards his medical expenses and, despite our efforts, he lost his life."
Agiru and Yawari have been political rivals.
15 girls among 23 caught with brew
POLICE have arrested 23 secondary school students in the capital city for drinking homebrew and believed to be in the process of performing cult practices, The National reports.
The 15 girls and eight boys all attend the same school but were in different grades.
Police acted on a tip-off and caught them at a residence at Malolo estate near 8-Mile, Port Moresby.
According to police report, most of the students were aged 16 and 17 years, while a few were over 18.
The students were taken to the Boroko police station where they were questioned and locked up.
During the arrest, police found a bucket containing 20 liters of home-brew. There was a pad containing a list of 23 nicknames, apart from their real names.
Police became suspicious that the students were up to something sinister, such as cult practices.
Police said the students were in the process of drinking when they were apprehended.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop could not be reached for comment. But Police Commissioner Tony Wagambie and NCD Central divisional commander Fred Sheekiot said they were aware of the arrest but yet to receive full details of what the students were up to.
Tiensten ‘flees’ fraud squad
FORMER national planning minister Paul Tiensten avoided being questioned for his part in alleged questionable disbursement of development funds when he flew out of the country, The National reports.
The team investigating corruption in the National Planning Department failed to detain Tiensten for questioning at the Jackson International Airport.
According to Sam Koim, the chairman of the Investigation Task Force Sweep, Tiensten, who is the MP for Pomio, used an open ticket to fly to Brisbane.
Koim said Tiensten was served a letter at his Port Moresby residence last Wednesday to present himself at the police fraud squad office in Kokopo on Monday. He failed to turn up for a police interview over the corruption allegations.
He said Tiensten, who was in Kokopo yesterday morning, was again requested to go to the Kokopo police station at 10am but flew to Port Moresby and caught the flight to Australia.
"As a leader of this country, (he) was accorded all the courtesies normally bestowed on such people," Koim said.
He said Tiensten avoided "detection of his movements" yesterday.
Koim said a formal request was made to Air Niugini to report any travel made by Tiensten.
"Air Niugini failed to report Tiensten's movements allowing him to abscond,'' he said.
"Attempts to apprehend him for evading arrest at the international airport were not successful.
"Tiensten is wanted for questioning over the K10 million paid out of development funds to a business in Kokopo and several other matters."
The team investigating corruption in the National Planning Department failed to detain Tiensten for questioning at the Jackson International Airport.
According to Sam Koim, the chairman of the Investigation Task Force Sweep, Tiensten, who is the MP for Pomio, used an open ticket to fly to Brisbane.
Koim said Tiensten was served a letter at his Port Moresby residence last Wednesday to present himself at the police fraud squad office in Kokopo on Monday. He failed to turn up for a police interview over the corruption allegations.
He said Tiensten, who was in Kokopo yesterday morning, was again requested to go to the Kokopo police station at 10am but flew to Port Moresby and caught the flight to Australia.
"As a leader of this country, (he) was accorded all the courtesies normally bestowed on such people," Koim said.
He said Tiensten avoided "detection of his movements" yesterday.
Koim said a formal request was made to Air Niugini to report any travel made by Tiensten.
"Air Niugini failed to report Tiensten's movements allowing him to abscond,'' he said.
"Attempts to apprehend him for evading arrest at the international airport were not successful.
"Tiensten is wanted for questioning over the K10 million paid out of development funds to a business in Kokopo and several other matters."
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