The Waigani National Court Fraud and Corruption related offense track is currently in the process of finding another judge to hear the trial of Western Govenor Ati Wobiro.
Lawyers representing Governor Wobiro and his co-accused, Western Provincial Administrator, Dr Modowa Gumoi and the Chief of Fly Care Foundation Inc. Norman Carl May returned before the Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika today.
The matter returned for mention after the trial for the fraud and corruption-related allegations against Wobiro was vacated or deferred to another date early this month.
Sir Gibbs told the court today another judge will be allocated for the trial as Justice Sir Bernard Sakora has other cases. A new date for the trial will be set once a judge is allocated the trial matter.
Governor Wobiro, Dr Gumoi and Norman May are facing identical charges of misappropriating funds totalling K7.9 million, charges that arose from counts of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud and misappropriation of public funds.
It is alleged the three conspired to establish the Fly Care Foundation between November 10 and December 15, 2013 by using K7.9 million funding from the provincial government.
It is alleged there was a memorandum of agreement between Governor Wobiro and May for the Foundation to deliver projects in the province.