Former dept secretary Kombuk to stand trial for corruption, conspiracy, dishonesty

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Daniel Kombuk

Former dept secretary Kombuk to stand trial for corruption, conspiracy, dishonesty

PORT MORESBY: Former Agriculture and Livestock Department secretary Daniel Kombuk has been committed to stand trial in the National Court for corruption, conspiracy and dishonesty.

Magistrate Danny Wakikura yesterday told Kombuk that the evidence before the court supported some elements of the allegations against him.

“It appears that there is evidence that you, being employed as a public servant, transferred money to PNG Hybrid Citrus Nursery Limited account which was registered to your wife,” he said.

The court proceedings were reported by The National:

Kombuk to stand trial for corruption, conspiracy, dishonesty

April 5, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By BEVERLY PETER
FORMER Agriculture and Livestock Department secretary Daniel Kombuk has been committed to stand trial in the National Court for corruption, conspiracy and dishonesty.
Magistrate Danny Wakikura yesterday told Kombuk that the evidence before the court supported some elements of the allegations against him.
“It appears that there is evidence that you, being employed as a public servant, transferred money to PNG Hybrid Citrus Nursery Ltd account which was registered to your wife,” he said.
“This also shows that you, as a public servant, conspired with your wife and dealt with a property belonging to another. The strength of the evidence is the matter only the trial court will determine.”
Magistrate Wakikura said Kombuk would be given an opportunity to address the court on his Section 96 statement on April 14, if he so wished. “If not, he can do that at the National Court,” he said.
On Jan 19, 2021, Kombuk as the department secretary, allegedly endorsed a number of claims totalling K310,580. As per his endorsement, cheques totalling K310,580 were allegedly drawn and paid on Jan 26, 2021 to offset the claims.
It is alleged that the cheques were drawn from the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Spice Industry Bank of South Pacific (BSP) account and one of those cheques was allegedly cashed by a department officer.
It is further alleged that a cheque of K112,800 was paid to Kombuk’s wife, Stephane Petrus, under the name PNG Hybrid Citrus Nursery Ltd. The payment of K112,800 to Petrus was allegedly endorsed by Kombuk as a requisition for expenditure for a reimburse of an unknown amount he said to have borrowed from PNG Hybrid Citrus Nursery Ltd.

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