A current employee of the Enga Provincial Government, Mr Mcholie Marley had been arrested and charged by members of ITFS for stealing by false pretence and misappropriation under the Criminal Code Act.
The National Department of Health (NDoH) organised to purchase the now Badili area Medical Store from IPBC for the value of K1.677million in 2008. The monies were paid into Stevens Lawyers to facilitate the contract of sale. However, IPBC decided to give the land to NDoH without any payment for the benefit of the public, hence the monies were kept at the Stevens Lawyers Trust Account.
Officers within the NDoH knew the existence of the monies at Stevens Lawyers and fabricated a letter, bearing the signature of the former Secretary for NDoH, Dr Clement Malau on 25th July 2008 to Stevens Lawyers for the funds to be paid to PACPNG Pharmaceutical Supplies for the sale of some medical drugs to NDoH.
It was discovered through the investigations that the company, PACPNG Pharmaceutical Supplies, was a bogus company registered in April 2008 to facilitate the transfer of the funds in the Lawyers Trust Account. The Defendant, Mr Marley is the sole owner of the company and is the sole signatory to the company’s bank account held at BSP limited.
Soon after the monies were deposited into the bank account, withdrawals were made and within a space of four months, the monies were depleted, leaving the account empty hence closed since then.
The suspect was picked up in Wabag and transported to Port Moresby, where his formal interview and charges were processed. As a matter of law, he is innocent until proven guilty in a Court of Law.
Authorised for release by ITFS Chairman, Mr Sam Koim, LLB [Hons]
