Deputy Governor Abini Gesele

Gesele’s case adjourned

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.

Western signs vendor finance agreement

Speaking to Loop PNG following the signing, Gesele said he was happy to sign on behalf of the province to finally have a commercial interest in the PNG LNG Project.

He said timing was of the essence after seeing the four provincial governments of Southern Highlands, Hela, Gulf and Central, sign their agreements last month.

“I sought advice from the legal authorities and they told me that because of the urgency, I had to sign on behalf of Western province,” he said.