Police are still conducting investigations into the case of Western Province’s Deputy Governor Abini Gesele currently before the Waigani Committal Court.
Gesele returned to court today for the second mention of his case where he was told that police are still working on producing a hand up brief or investigation files in court.
The case was adjourned to March 20. By way of practise in the Committal Court, Police investigators have four months to produce the investigation files in court before defense counsels can make a response and the court decides if there is sufficient evidence on the allegations.
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 on January 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 a 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.
This is something that can only be done by persons authorised by law but he did so without the authority of the Fly River Provincial Government when he assumed 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.)