Deputy Provincial Governor of the Western Province Abini Gesele and his lawyer briefly appeared at the Waigani Committal Court this morning.
Magistrate Mekeo Gauli read his charge and explained to him the committal court process before adjourning the matter to Feb 20 to allow time for police to continue their investigations to produce a police hand up brief.
The 46-year-old from Ali village, Balimo in the South Fly District of Western Province was arrested by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption directorate last week Thursday (Jan 12).
He was charged with one count of False Assumption of Authority under section 96(c)(ii) of the Criminal Code Act, chapter 262. He was later released on K500 bail.
It is alleged he signed a purported letter as the Acting Governor of the Fly River Provincial Government and Chairman of the Provincial Executive Council on Sept 22, 2016 for the extension of the acting appointment of Gull Gorom as the acting Provincial Administrator.
The letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Personal Management where Gesele allegedly endorsed the extension of the acting appointment of Gull Gorom as the acting Provincial Administrator.
Something that can only be done by persons authorised by law and he did so without the authority of the Fly River Provincial Government when he assume to act as the Acting Provincial Governor.
He was arrested after complaints were laid at the ACP Crimes office on May 30, 2016 by Governor Ati Wobiro, Former Provincial Administrator Dr Modowa Gumoi, Acting CEO of the North-Fly DDA Robert Kaiyun and MPA President of the Ningerum LLG Kawuk Konmop.
(Loop PNG file picture of Abini Gesele.)