CONVICTED Pomio MP Paul Tiensten will continue to serve his nine-year prison term at Bomana Jail after the Waigani Supreme Court dismissed his appeal last Friday.
Tiensten was convicted and jailed by the National Court early this year for misappropriating K10 million of State funds three years ago. The Supreme Court bench of Justices Allen David, Don Sawong and Stephen Kassman upheld trial judge’s decision that the conviction was “safe and satisfactory”. In a 44-page ruling, the judges stated that there was sufficient evidence to establish the element of dishonesty. There were eight legal issues relating to the grounds of appeal which the court ruled in favour of the State prosecution. The court ruled that the notation by Tiensten to then acting Planning Secretary Ruby Zarriga to facilitate the payment of K10 million to Travel Air amounted to a “direction”. Tiensten was in court with his lawyer Greg Sheppard. He was convicted by the National Court for misappropriation under section 383 (A) (1) of the Criminal Code after a trial. A cheque payment of K10 million was paid out by the National Planning Department to local airline Travel Air in March 2011, according to evidence presented in court. Tiensten was the National Planning Minister at that time. Trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika ruled that Tiensten’s direction caused the National Planning Department officers to bypass the proper appraisal processes and the Public Finances Management Act. Comments are closed.
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