Fraud trial: Lodge owner gives evidence

The owner of a lodge in Port Moresby today gave evidence in a trial conducted at the Waigani National Court.

Mose Kopyoto owns Kopyoto Investments Ltd, the company that runs Lodge 10 in Port Moresby.

In 2015, four men received services from his lodge upon presentation of fake cheques, defrauding him of cash while pretending to be employees of the Department of National Planning.

Three of those four men are now standing trial at the National Court.

Nelson Aila of Goimga village, Malalaua District, Gulf Province, Murray Willie of Warakum in the Western Highlands Province and their co-accused, Simon Nokue, are currently standing trial in court.

The fourth accused, Samson Monty Manimba, will stand trial at a later date.

All three are on trial for three counts of forgery and 14 counts of false pretense.

It is alleged that between Aug 8 and Oct 2, 2015, in Port Moresby, Willie, while in the company of others, by false pretense presented fake cheques to Mose Kapioto, the owner of a lodge, pretending to be employees of the Department  of National Planning.

It is alleged that on 17 different occasions between these dates, Willie and others presented fake cheques with amounts of K55,000 and K1.9 million respectively to Mose Kopioto’s lodge and defrauded him off a total of K628,000 cash.

Kopyoto gave evidence for the state against the three accused today. Defense will present its case at the close of state evidence.

The trial continues.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton