Detectives from the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate have arrested and charged a former National Judiciary Staff Services employee for fraud.
Ms Rachael Tony, aged 26, of Hula village, Rigo district in Central Province, was interviewed and charged yesterday with one count of obtaining goods by false pretence.
In a statement, NFACD director, Matthew Damaru, said: “The charge emanated from an Island Mobile Hire Cars rental agreement she signed on behalf of NJSS for hire of a vehicle for 30 days.”
Damaru said she allegedly made representation to the hire car firm that the deputy chief justice would be using the vehicle.
“Initially for the first 10 days, she was given a white Toyota Prado,” said the director.
“After 10 days she returned the Toyota Prado and exchanged it for a Toyota 5-door Land Cruiser.”
However, after the 30 days lapsed, the vehicle was not returned. This prompted the Island Mobile Hire Cars to enquire about the vehicle at NJSS.
Tony was located at the Waigani National Court House, where she directed the hire car firm to her residence at Badili, where the vehicle was found.
“The invoice of K25,844.50 was referred to NJSS for payment and the Office of the Deputy Chief Justice was queried and denied the hire of the vehicle,” stated Damaru.
“No authority was given from the Office of the Deputy Chief Justice for the vehicle to be hired during the period in question.”
During the interview at the Directorate, she said she hired the vehicle for her own use. However, the evidence shows otherwise, said Damaru.
Tony was employed by NJSS as personal assistant to the deputy chief justice when she committed the offence. However, her employment was terminated on May 1, 2017.
After the interview at NFACD, she was taken to the Boroko Police Station and placed in a cell.
“The arrest is a result of investigation conducted into the fraud allegations made against Rachael Tony by NJSS,” stated Damaru.
“More arrests are expected to be made in this matter soon.”
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Editorial note:
This is an updated version of the article initially published on May 6th 2017.
We initially stated that Rachel Tony was the P.A to the Deputy Chief Justice.
This was an error.
Rachel Tony is not the P.A to the Deputy Chief Justice’s office, but she was the P.A to the office of the Chief Justice at the time of her offense.
We apologies for the over-sight and any inconvenience that this error may have caused.