Aussie sentenced to 9 years in jail

A 59-year- old Papua New Guinea – based Australian businessman was sentenced to nine years imprisonment by the Lae National Court today.

Mr Peter Ralph Mayop from Mackay, North Queensland in Australia was found guilty for uttering a false cheque contrary to section 463 of the Criminal Code and money laundering contrary to section 34 of the Proceeds of the Crime Act.

Documentary evidence have shown that Mr Mayoh went on a shopping spree for almost a month landing him with nine years imprisonment.

Justice Sao Gabi when handing down the sentence said between April 21, and May 17, 2010, Mayoh made large cash withdrawals to fund a speculative oil lease partnership, Electronic Fund Transfer (EFTPOS) transactions at hotels , clubs in Lae and Port Moresby, two airliners, a reputable white good supermarket and a renown jeweler in PNG.

Justice Gabi said the offence is serious involving a substantial amount of K957, 370.00 deposited into Mayoh’s company the Powa Construction Limited bank account, four years ago.

Justice Gabi said the penalty imposed provides an adequate deterrent to other likeminded offenders thereby sentencing Mayoh to four (4) year for uttering a false cheque contrary to section 463 of the Criminal Code and five (5) years for money laundering contrary to section 34 of the Proceeds of the Crime Act.

 He added that the connotations depicts a high degree of dishonesty by a well educated man (Mayoh) and supersedes the offence committed at the spur of the moment.

“I believe a considerable planning and organization went into the transaction as not all persons implicated have been brought before the courts and dealt with according to law,” said Justice Gabi.

Facts presented by Justice Gabi in the sentence revealed that on  April 09, 2010, Mayoh deposited a fraudulent cheque of K957, 370.00 made out to Powa Construction Limited and drawn on an account held by VetcoAibel (PNG) Limited.

According to VetcoAbel website, “VetcoAibel is the subsidiary owner company of Egypt Maintenance Company (EMC) a known maintenance and modification service provider involve with large oil, gas and petroleum companies worldwide.”

The accused said he had acted unknowingly of the cheque as a forgery as instructed by a Manu Yama and so begged the court to pay a court fine and repay the amount owed and to be released on good behavior bond as specified by the national court.

Justice Gabi ruled out the appeal on the grounds that the offender had not put before the courts evidence of an arrangement for restitution. “Without such a plan I am unable to say with a degree of certainty that the offender is genuine about repaying the money.

The sentence further stated that on July 20th April 11 days after making the initial deposit, Mayoh withdrew K707, 000.00 in cash and lied that it was for outstanding payments and the purchase of machines. Mayoh later revealed the K700, 000.00 from that the amount was paid to Manu Yama.

Other payments made was K250, 370.00 to PNG Coffee Exports, Farmset, and Mikela and the balance remaining was K105, 000.00 personally viewed by Justice Gabi to have befitted Mayoh.

By May 17, 2010, the funds had been exhausted.  Mr. Mayoh established Powa Constructions limited in 2008 and tendered for road works construction

At the time of committing the offence Mayoh was employed by Consort Shipping Limited for three years before leaving Consort in 2012 and worked for Monadelphous Limited in Kutubu.  He has been unemployed since June 24, 2013 and was represented by Niugini lawyers.