K10 million man
From todays Post-Courier:
THE National Planning and Monitoring Department paid K10 million to a Kokopo-based businessman Eremas Wartoto to start his private airline company – Travel Air – and millions more were paid out to senior staff of the department.
Ministerial staff of Paul Tiensten and associates also collected millions of Kina in “bogus project” payments made between March and May this year. The details are contained in a report now filed as an affidavit before the National Court in Waigani compiled by lawyer Philemon Korowi who is acting on behalf of suspended Secretary Joseph Lelang.
The payment to Mr Wartoto was made on March 31, 2011, and the cheque no is 000158 which was collected from the department by a senior staff of the department, T Tuna, and delivered it to Mr Wartoto who owns the Travel Car business as well as the Queen Emma Lodge in Kokopo and a building and construction business based in Kokopo as well.
Government sources said last night that the payment was made without National Executive Council’s (NEC) approval and therefore could render the payment improper.
The payment was made during the three-month suspension of Secretary Joseph Lelang and Acting Secretary Ruby Zarriga was in the hot seat.