The Morobe Provincial Government has begun the long tedious process of repossessing government property – some of which were disposed through questionable means over 20 years.
Over the last 12 months, the business arm of the provincial government investigated and successfully prosecuted two supposed owners of properties.
The ownership of 20 others are currently being investigated.
It is a mammoth that involved tracing source documents including contracts of sale, land titles and business ownership documents.
Then some success early this month, two parties were successfully prosecuted and property repossessed.
Along the two mile area, this block of land is one of the properties taken back by the Morobe provincial government.
From information obtained by the investigation, a lot of money changed hands. The provincial government won’t reveal just how much. But the supposed owners of the plot didn’t have the documents in place.
Another property at Eriku has also been repossessed. The tenants told to leave following a court order issued after successful proceedings.
According to a completed audit, there are 20 other properties that fall under a similar category. Some have no contract of sale. At least one block of land was bought and the former tenants forced out based on a false court order.