Eremas Wartoto

Wartoto’s appeal dismissed

In dismissing the appeal, the full court found the National Court’s conviction was ‘safe and satisfactory’.

On 23 June 2017, Wartoto of Raburua village in East New Britain Province was sentenced to 10 years in jail over the misappropriation of K6.4 million, after he was convicted on March 29, 2017.

This case involved the misuse of funds allocated and paid to Sarakolok West Transport (SWT) for the renovation of facilities at the Kerevat National High School back in November of 2008.

Wartoto admitted back to hospital

His admittance follows interim orders that were issued by the Waigani National Court on 23 February by Human Rights judge, Justice David Cannings.

The interim order allowed for urgent medical attention to be given for his “deteriorating medical conditions”. 

Wartoto, who was sentenced on 23 June 2017, was in hospital from March 2017 to 10 January 2018 when he was taken back to Bomana without being formally discharged.

He was among those prisoners who were removed from the hospital on 10 January on orders from the Correctional Service Commissioner, Michael Waipo.

Court orders medical help for Wartoto

The court ordered for the parties to immediately take the convicted businessman to the Port Moresby General Hospital’s Sir Buri Kidu Heart Institution.

The orders follow an urgent application filed by Wartoto’s lawyer, Paul Pori Yange.

Justice David Cannings presiding over the matter, accepted Yange’s submission that his client’s medical condition is deteriorating and he needs close medical observation.

Wartoto suffers from chronic hypertension or high blood pressure, a condition his lawyer says has since deteriorated following his conviction and sentence in 2017.

Half done job at Kerevat National high: Report

The K7.9 million contract awarded to SWT was to rehabilitate boys and girls dormitories, ablution blocks, water supply and sewerage systems.

Justice George Manuhu, in his ruling, said those works were incomplete and substandard. He was making reference to a report by Elliot Kadir which was brought to the attention of the Waigani National Court during the trial against director and shareholder of SWT, Eremas Wartoto.

Lelang and Kimmins recommended for prosecution

Sarakolok West Transport (SWT) is owned by Eremas Wartoto and was given the contract for the renovation of facilities at the Kerevat National High school in November of 2008.

He was found guilty of misusing K6.4 million of that K7.9 million between January 29, 2009 and January 20, 2010.

Justice George Manuhu sentenced Wartoto to 10 years in prison with hard labor on Friday.

He said Wartoto’s downfall was a mixture of stupidity on his part, lack of due diligence and a lot of illegal help from the Department of National Planning & Monitoring.

10 years jail time for Wartoto

This case involved the misuse of funds allocated and paid to Sarakolok West Transport (SWT) for the renovation of facilities at the Kerevat National High school back in November of 2008.

Justice George Manuhu of the Waigani National Court sentenced Wartoto to 10 years in hard labor.

Four years of that sentenced will be suspended if he repays K3.9 million in the next four months.

Wartoto: Consider health in sentence

He told the court he is willing to repay any amount deemed fit by the court as his penalty.

Wartoto returned before Justice George Manuhu today where he was given the opportunity to address the court on what sentence he thinks the court should impose on him.

He apologised to the court and the State for the resources used to conduct the trial which resulted in his guilty verdict on March 29.

Wartoto guilty of misappropriation

He was taken to Bomana to be remanded soon after the decision was handed down. His bail was forfeited. 

Wartoto will return to court on April 21 where submissions will be made on his penalty sentence.

This case involved the misuse of funds allocated and paid to Sarakolok West Transport (SWT) for the renovation of facilities at the Kerevat National High school back in November of 2008.

Justice George Manuhu delivered his decision on verdict this afternoon after the trial was conducted in February last year.

Review on Wartoto’s committal to continue

This comes after a three-man Supreme Court bench quashed a decision of the National Court, that summarily dismissed a judicial review he filed in the National Court to review the district court’s decision to

full court found that the decision to dismiss the Judicial Review on Nov 12, 2015 was an error of law.

The court also found that in the decision of Nov 12, 2015, the judge misinterpreted or misapplied an earlier commit his case for trial on fraud related charges.

Decision on verdict for Wartoto next week

 Wartoto and his lawyer were in court this morning when the matter was mentioned. Justice George Manuhu told the court he will hand down the decision next  Friday, July 15.

This comes after a trial was conducted in February this year into the misuse of the Kerevat National High school renovation funds in 2009.

State alleges that the funds amount to K7.9 million that were paid to Sarakolok West Transport (SWT), a company that Wartoto was the Managing Director of in 2009.