Former NCD elections manager Hetinu’s appeal against corruption conviction starts next month

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

For image details, go to https://www.thenational.com.pg/corrupt-hetinu-jailed-7-years/

Former NCD elections manager Hetinu’s appeal against corruption conviction starts next month

PORT MORESBY: Former National Capital District election manager Terence Hetinu’s appeal against conviction for corruption will be heard in the Supreme Court next month.

Justice David Cannings Dec 5, 2022, for pre-hearing and Dec 12 for full hearing.

Details of the court proceedings were reported by The National:

Hetinu appeals conviction

November 1, 2022The NationalMain Stories

FORMER National Capital District election manager Terence Hetinu’s appeal against conviction of official corruption will be heard in the Supreme Court next month.
Justice David Cannings directed parties to certify the appeal book by Nov 7 and also file sufficient number of appeal books by Nov 28.
Parties were also directed to file and serve extract of submissions by Dec 2 for the matter to return for pre-hearing conference on Dec 5 and full hearing on Dec 12.
The directions were given following advise by State lawyer Tapas Kametan that necessary documents had been already inserted and the matter was ready for hearing.
Hetinu, 51, from Biteve village in Kainantu, Eastern Highlands, was the election manager for NCD in the 2017 general election.
He was convicted last November for corruptly receiving K184,300 for himself.
The court had conducted a joint trial for Hetinu and former electoral commissioner Patilias Gamato.
The evidence failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Gamato had received any money for himself on account of paying polling officials to ensure the election of a candidate. On June 27, 2017, some polling officials in NCD refused to take up their polling stations that morning due to the non-payment of their camping allowances for the general election.
Gamato and Hetinu met at Gamato’s house to discuss the issue.
Gamato deferred the election to June 30, 2017 on advice from then Met Supt Benjamin Turi.
Sometime later on June 27, 2017, Hetinu was arrested by police while driving away from an angry crowd at the China Town polling station at East Boroko.
He had in his possession K184,300 in cash and a signed memorandum of agreement between Hetinu and others.
The parties had agreed to “do such acts from time-to-time that shall cause or give effect to” the election of a candidate for the NCD regional seat.
In April, the National Court jailed Hetinu seven years with light labour and labelled the corruption case as the worst of its kind.
Judge Theresa Berrigan noted during sentencing that those entrusted with power and authority in public office, at any level of the public service, must be accountable to the people.

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