Ijivitari District

Fraud squad arrests Engan businessman

Yesterday, detectives from the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) arrested managing director for First National Real Estate Ltd, Martin Piason, aged 39 of Tsak village, Wapenamanda.

He was charged with one count of misappropriation of more than K1.3 million under the criminal code act and one count of money laundering under proceeds of crime act.

In a statement, fraud director Matthew Damaru said it is alleged K3 million was paid by the Ijivitari District Treasury to two companies for purported mobile health programs.

Cyclone Guba flooding still haunts locals

Virginia Pijai, a women’s leader from Numba village in Afore, Ijivitari District in Northern Province said locals dread another similar disaster during heavy downpours.

She said many lessons had been learnt from the disaster, which claimed the loves of 14 people from their village

Pijai said villagers have begun making gardens and building homes away or on higher ground from the rivers and waterways.

However, this does not erase the fear of another flooding disaster.