Posted By Staff Reporter
A MAN appeared before the Waigani Committal Court on Tuesday charged with defrauding nine incorporated land groups (ILGs) of more than K4 million in royalty payments from the Department of Petroleum and Energy. Magistrate Paul Nii arraigned Mere Kende, 54, of Pawabi village in Erave, Southern Highlands, on charges of false pretence and conspiracy to defraud before adjourning the matter to Sept 9. Kende is out on an extended of K2,000. He allegedly committed the offences between 1999 and 2003. The Imawe Bogasi stock clan has a population of about 3,000 people scattered across Erave and Kikori in Gulf. The sub-clans, through the nine ILGs, are beneficiaries to equity and royalty funds from Gobe petroleum project and segment 6 of Kutubu and PNG LNG pipeline projects. The nine ILGs (with other ILGs from Gobe project area) were incorporated by the Department of Lands between 1995 and 2004.
Several equity and royalty payments have been made since 2004 to the nine ILGs identified under two ministerial determinations. However, it was later discovered that in respect of royalty payments, landowners were underpaid by K15 million, hence, the disbursement of the balance now. The court, through orders issued by the Supreme Court in proceedings SCA 111 of 2006, recognised the nine ILGs as the legitimate and legal beneficiaries. The complainants are members of the clans and chairman of the respective ILGs. On March 18, a Bank South Pacific cheque valued at K4,546,958.69 made payable to Imawe Bogasi ILG, was delivered to Kende by the Department of Petroleum and Energy. The cheque was drawn from Gobe petroleum trust fund account maintained at Port Moresby’s Bank South Pacific and represented underpaid royalties due to the Imawe Bogasi ILGs. Statement Next : Pape Has Done Nothing Wrong: Namah Playing Decoy To Protect Lawyer Comments are closed.
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