Twelve vehicles that belong to Tewai-Siassi District in Morobe Province were found and recovered in Lae within a two-week operation by the District’s Administration and Lae Police.
The vehicles were purchased in Lae five years ago by the former administration to be utilised in the district. They have not reached Tewai-Siassi District until their recoveries.
Member for Tewai-Siassi District Dr. Kobby Bomareo said five vehicles are still on the run and yet to be retrieved.
These are the Tewai-Siassi District vehicles that were purchased in Lae by the previous administration to deliver service in Tewai-Siassi District.
The vehicles were recovered in Lae, and few from outside of the city. The search of these vehicles was done within a two-week operation by Lae Police and the current Tewai-Siassi Administration.
The search follows the call of the Member for Tewai-Siassi to the former Administration to return the District’s assets three months ago.
These vehicles have never reached Tewai-Siassi District. They have been in Lae since they were purchased 5 years ago.
The cost of these 12 vehicles including five others that are yet to be retrieved was to the value of more than K3 million.
Dr. Bomareo said there is only one vehicle operating in the District. He said to he would have all district assets deliver service to the people of Tewai-Siassi.
The Member has requested the former Administration to provide him an asset registry but he has not received one as yet.
The vehicles were not in good state when they were recovered. Some parts were missing, including the vehicles windscreen.
Only four vehicle keys were found out of the 12 retrieved. The other vehicles were towed by Police to Lae’s Police Station.
Dr. Bomareo said the case is a police matter and people in possession of the vehicles would be responsible for the damages caused.