Wednesday, January 22, 2014

PNG former Finance Secretary Steven Gibson on K10,000 bail

Former Finance Secretary Steven Gibson appeared yesterday at the Waigani committal court on fraud-related charges.
Gibson (inserted), 54, from Nihon village, Lorengau, Manus was released on a K10,000 bail and will reappear for mention on April 24. Gibson’s bail condition states that he is not to interfere with State witnesses.

Gibson was charged with three counts of misappropriation, three counts of official corruption and three counts of conspiracy to defraud. It was in relation to public funds paid out to a law firm in Port Moresby.
Gibson was Finance Secretary from 2011 to 2013 when the offences were allegedly committed.


Magistrate Lawrence Kangwia told Gibson that the role of the committal court was to only screen the evidence presented by State prosecutors, and not to determine if a person was guilty or innocent.
Kangwia said if the Committal Court found that there was enough evidence against him, the case would be referred to the National Court.


The Investigation Task Force Sweep, which investigated the case, alleges that the payments by Gibson to the law firm were illegal.


Source: The National 23, 2014

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