Ex-NHC boss freed from fraud-related charges
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Ex-NHC boss freed from fraud-related charges
PORT MORESBY: The Government has withdrawn fraud-related charges
against former National Housing Corporation (NHC) acting managing director Elizabeth
Bowada.
National Court acting judge Justice Laura Kuvi
dismissed the charges after the governme4nt’s decision.
She ordered that the bail money be refunded to Bowada.
Details of the case were published by The National:
Court frees
ex-NHC boss
December 21,
2021The NationalMain Stories
THE State
has withdrawn fraud-related charges against former acting managing director of
the National Housing Corporation Elizabeth Bowada, saying it lacked evidence to
proceed with the case.
National Court acting judge Justice Laura Kuvi dismissed the charges after the
State’s decision.
Justice Kuvi ordered that her bail money be refunded.
Bowada, 42, of Okaikoda village in Losuia, Milne Bay, had appeared in court in
July last year facing a count each of misappropriation, false pretence and
making false claims.
In January this year, Chief Magistrate Mark Pupaka dismissed the charges of
misappropriation of property and obtaining goods by false pretences because of
insufficient evidence.
It decided to proceed to trial with the false claim charge. It was in relation
to her loss in salary between April 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019, while being
employed as a senior legal officer of the National Housing Corporation,
amounting to K156,983.67.
Her lawyer David Dusal said the case was supposed to go to trial yesterday.
But the State could not find any evidence and filed a nolle prosequi, meaning
it would not proceed with the case.
“It doesn’t have any substantial evidence to proceed with the trial,” Dusal
said.
Bowada said it had been an emotional journey.
“In the process of the journey, I did lose my job as the acting managing
director.
“The main reason I was not made permanent was because of this proceeding.
“I’m glad that today, justice is served,” Bowada said.
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