Blacklock freed of charges

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Carolyn Blacklock

Blacklock freed of charges

PORT MORESBY: Former Acting PNG Power Ltd managing director Carolyn Blacklock was discharged by the Waigani committal court on all four corruption-related charges because of insufficient evidence.

Magistrate Paul Nii said the evidence submitted on the four charges “must be direct” and ordered that Blacklock’s passport be returned to her and the bail money be refunded.

Blacklock was charged with one count each of misappropriation, false pretence, forgery and conspiracy when she held the PNG Power position in 2018.

Details of the court proceedings were reported by The National:

Blacklock charges cleared

December 21, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By CLARISSA MOI
A COURT has dismissed all charges against the former acting managing director of PNG Power Ltd Carolyn Blacklock because of insufficient evidence.
Blacklock was charged in September with one count each of misappropriation, false pretence, forgery and conspiracy when she held the PNG Power position in 2018.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Paul Nii said the evidence submitted on the four charges “must be direct”.
He ordered that Blacklock’s passport be returned to her and the bail money she paid be refunded.
“The court is of the view that your appointment to PNG Power and your contract of employment was through an NEC (National Executive Council) decision,” he said.
“KCH (Kumul Consolidated Holdings Ltd) and PNG Power are inferior to NEC decisions.
“They are governed by the authorities of NEC.
“There were also allegations of conspiracy and other allegations levelled against you. But evidence must be direct, implied and assumption is not an evidence.
“Evidence of conspiracy must be direct that you were seen with someone somewhere.
“There is nothing here.”
It was alleged that between December 2018 and August 2019, Blacklock dishonestly applied K1,768,448.25 of funds belonging to PNG Power Ltd to her benefit under a fraudulent contract.
Magistrate Nii said police failed to produce satisfactory evidence to meet the elements of the allegation.
“Evidence shows that the money was lawfully paid under an existing contract of employment between (Blacklock) and PNG Power Ltd. Money within the contractual time frame.”
On the false pretence charge, Magistrate Nii said evidence suggested that Blacklock did not pretend or promise to obtain money to pay herself.
“Therefore, it is my ruling that police evidence has failed to make a serious case against the defendant by fulfilling all the elements of the offence of forgery, therefore this charge is dismissed.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can ...
Read more

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa...
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem...
Read more