Greg Sheppard

Sheppard Alleges Abuse Of Process

In a committal court proceeding, Greg Sheppard alleged that K2.3 million was paid to police officers involved in the investigation.

He alleged that 16 different payments were made to the police officers by an Australian Consultancy firm called FTI, and four separate payments made by the Department of Prime Minister and NEC, and the Western Provincial government.

Sheppard’s second arrest

This is the lawyer’s second arrest following his involvement with K52 million belonging to the Western Province People’s Dividends Community Mine Continuation Agreement Trust Fund.

In a statement, Police alleged that Sheppard was involved directly in unlawfully transferring K52 million from K268 million belonging to the Western Province People’s Dividends Community Mine Continuation Agreement Funds belonging to the landowners of the Ok Tedi Mine.

​Bongre’s plight highlights poor health system

And in the most recent case, three-year-old Bongre’s sad end to a two-year search for answer has once more shone light on the poor health system of the country.

Bongre’s story attracted public attention when it hit social media.

In fact, Simbu Children Foundation’s volunteer Michael Williams, who’s been directly involved with Bongre, says the toddler’s story touched more than 59,000 people around the world.

And it has gone to show how an innocent child’s life has been stolen by cancer, because the country still lacks special equipment.

Sad end to a two year search

But is this the answer his parents wanted to hear after years of searching?

Bongre has been undergoing a number of scans at the Pacific International Hospital’s radiology section, over the last few weeks.

The results confirmed the three year old has Stage 4b Retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a rare form of cancer that rapidly develops from the immature cells of a retina, the light-detecting tissue of the eye. It is the most common malignant cancer of the eye in children, and it is almost exclusively found in young children.

​Toddler robbed of eyesight

Bongre Anton Peter however, is a three-year-old that has been robbed of this opportunity.

He has been living with a cancerous growth around his eye for two years now.

"He used to see with both eyes, but the growth around his right eye has completely blocked off his sight in that eye," said mother, Sinto Peter.

"It doesn't pain a lot but it passes pus and blood," she said.

This is a factor behind Bongre's low blood supply, which has also forced the toddler to be less active.

The boy and his parents are currently in Port Moresby seeking medical help.

The Sheppard Band arrives in POM

The plane touched down at Jackson's International airport at 1:15pm.

After at least 30 minutes, the group emerged through arrivals to be met by the team from The Cosmopolitan club, father of the Sheppard siblings Greg Sheppard and team from his law firm Young and William Lawyers and the media.

They came accompanied by Mrs Sheppard.

But of course it was not their first time into the country as the team from the father's law firm welcomed the group with warm hugs.