Former PNG Power CEO nabbed over ‘work contract

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Former PNG Power CEO nabbed over ‘work contract

PORT MORESBY: Former PNG Power Limited acting chief executive officer Carolyn Blacklock is facing charges of conspiracy, forgery, false pretence and misappropriation in relation to an employment contract she signed three years ago.

Police Comm David Manning yesterday (Aug 31, 2021) confirmed that Blacklock, 48, of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia was arrested on Monday (Aug 30, 2021), interviewed and charged by the National Capital District police fraud squad officers and released on a K3,000 bail.

Details of the news break were published by The National:

Blacklock facing fraud charges

September 1, 2021The NationalMain Stories

David Manning

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
FORMER PNG Power Limited acting chief executive officer Carolyn Blacklock is facing charges of conspiracy, forgery, false pretence and misappropriation in relation to an employment contract she allegedly signed three years ago.
Police Commissioner David Manning yesterday confirmed that Blacklock, 48, of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia, was arrested on Monday, interviewed and charged by the National Capital District police fraud squad officers and released on a K3,000 police bail.
She resigned as acting managing director of PNG Power in August 2019.
She is currently the chief executive officer of a private company in Port Moresby.
She had been seconded to PNG Power from the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council where she was working as a special adviser on infrastructure and major initiatives.
She was then employed by Cardno PNG under the PNG-Australia economic and social infrastructure programme.
On Dec 22, 2017, the National Executive Council appointed Blacklock as acting managing director of PNG Power Limited.
In January 2018, Blacklock began her stint at PNG Power while the position of managing director of PNG Power was being advertised.
Comm Manning said the charges were related to the “alleged incident of conspiring with another, and forging an employment contract as acting (managing director) of (PNG Power) and to defraud (PNG Power) and the State of PNG of K1.77 million”.
“It is alleged that in August 2018, Blacklock and an accomplice, conspired to fabricate a contract of employment for her for the position of acting managing director of PNG Power Limited without notifying PNG Power Limited, the Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited (KCHL) board and the National Executive Council (NEC).
“The contract was signed by the accomplice and Blacklock in her capacity as acting managing director and dated Aug 28, 2018.”
It is alleged that amounts totaling K1,768,448.25 were paid to her between December 2018 and August 2019 by PNG Power on the strength of the alleged fraudulent contract.
The amounts were for the refund of school fees, back pay and normal pay.
Comm Manning said Blacklock was at the time allegedly receiving a salary under a contract with Cardno PNG too.
Comm Manning said Blacklock allegedly informed members of PNG Power board that her appointment as acting managing director was “at no cost to PNG Power”.
“During the 20 months as acting managing director, Blacklock was still as an adviser under contract with Cardno PNG and received a salary and benefits under her existing contract of employment,” he said.
“She was never duly appointed to the substantive position of managing director, nor did the PNG Power Limited board, the KCHL board or the NEC resolved for the PNG Power chairman to (allow her to) enter into a contract of employment.
“Blacklock allegedly conspired with an accomplice (to) fabricate a fraudulent contract of employment and facilitated the payments of K1.77mil to (her) in the false pretence that she was entitled to outstanding remuneration and termination pay.”

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