Western Province Governor, Ati Wobiro, has asked the Waigani National Court not to send him to prison.
In a submission, he asked instead for the court to allow him to repay K7 million of government funds he misappropriated.
Wobiro, who is out on bail, apologised to the court saying he was sorry for his actions.
Wobiro and his two co-accused, Western Provincial Administrator, Dr. Modowa Gumoi and businessman, Norman May, appeared before Justice Martin Ipang.
The trio were given the chance to respond to the court’s ruling before their lawyer made submissions on their sentencing.
Governor Wobiro was the first to speak. He sought the courts favour, adding that he graduated with a degree from the University of Technology and also attained two Masters degrees from universities abroad, and that he is a believer of second chances and asked the court for a second chance.
The second convict, Dr. Gumoi, also apologised for his actions and asked the court for leniency saying he was a senior member in the Western Provincial Government.
Local businessman, Norman May, also apologised for his actions asking the court for minimal punishment. Their lawyer, Justin Wohuinangu, argued that the trio were not found guilty of serious charges.
He submitted that they be put on a good behaviour bond and their sentence be suspended.
However, State lawyer, Anthony Kupman, objected to the submissions and said Wobiro has doubted the court’s ruling in his statement to Justice Ipang, and all three should be imprisoned.
The submissions ended late yesterday afternoon.
A verdict on their sentence will be delivered by justice Ipang after considering the trio’s statements and submissions from both lawyers.
