Bogia MP to stand trial on funds

Bogia MP and Chairman of the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee Sir John Hickey has been committed by the Waigani District Court to stand trial at the National Court next year.

Magistrate Mekeo Gauli made the ruling this morning after he found that there was sufficient evidence against the member.

He was charged in March this year in Port Moresby and is facing allegations of official corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation.

He will be expected to appear for listing at the Waigani National Court on February 8, 2016.

The committal court found that there was evidence of the member having been involved in official corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation between August 22 and Oct 3 of 2013.

The court found he dishonestly applied K680,000 using his position as the chairman of the JDP&BPC to purchase a boat when he conducted a meeting on August 28,2013 in Madang.

This meeting was conducted without the presence of the three local level government presidents and passed resolution number 2.3 of 2013 on the voices.

The court found that the member appointed four ordinary members to sit in place of the three LLG presidents where he conducted the meeting and passed agenda items he brought on voice without proper debate.

The court also found that no proper proposals were provided for the purchase of a vessel at the cost of K680,000.

The vessel was purchased for Kapale Ltd, a company owned by his adopted son and was intended to be used as a passenger and cargo vessel for Manam islanders, and to be managed by Kapae Ltd.

Magistrate Gauli said there was also evidence before the court from witnesses that the MP pressured officials in the district office as well as bank officers to raise the cheque quickly for the purchase of the vessel.

He found that by October 3, the cheque of K680, 000 was raised and the vessel purchased before the next JDP&BPC meeting which was set for November 2013.

Gauli also found that prior to the purchase of the vessel; clearance was not given from the National Maritime and Safety Authority on the seaworthiness of the vessel.

He said the requirements under the Finance Management Act were also not complied with by the Provincial Tenders and Supply board and that the meeting on August 22, 2013 was not properly conducted.

Having found all that, Galuli committed Sir John to stand trial at the National Court.

The member however maintained his silence as a right when given the option to file a section 96 statement of the District Court Act.

He will be expected to appear before the Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on February 8, 2016 for call over.

 

 

(Pictured above is a file picture of the member walking out of the Court house during his tribunal hearing early this year.)

  

Author: 
Sally Pokiton