Sarakolok West Transport

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.

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.

Lawyers from the Public Prosecutors office indicated 20 witnesses are expected for the trial which began yesterday into the misuse of the Kerevat National High school renovation funds.

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. 

The trial started with its first two witnesses called yesterday. Both witnesses were former teaching staff of the Kerevat National High school.