Jan 30 court hearing for Rex Kiponge

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Rex Kiponge

Jan 30 court hearing for Rex Kiponge

PORT MORESBY: A committal court in Waigani has fixed Jan 30 to hear the case against suspended National Airports Corporation managing-director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge.

The case was mentioned yesterday (Dec 12, 2022) in court to have all his files put together.

This was because he had three court files – two with charges of abuse of office and another with abuse of office, conspiracy and corruption.

The court proceedings were reported by The National:

Kiponge’s case set for mention

December 13, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By BEVERLY PETER
A WAIGANI Committal Court has set the case against suspended National Airport Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge for mention on Jan 30.
Kiponge’s case was mentioned yesterday in court to have all his files put together.
This was because he had three court files — two with the charges of abuse of office and another with abuse of office, conspiracy and official corruption.
Two of the court files – one with one count of abuse of office and another one with abuse of office, conspiracy and official corruption – was read to Kiponge last month when he first appeared in court.
At that time, the police prosecutor informed the court that they had another file with an additional charge of abuse of office against him. Court then asked the prosecutor to give the information on the additional charge to Kiponge’s lawyer to prepare and return yesterday to put the files together.
Kiponge’s lawyer Dan Kakaraya, upon mentioning the case, asked the court to adjourn the matter because the police prosecutor who was taking carriage of the files was not available. Kiponge was charged along with Livestock Minister Sekie Agisa on Nov 30 with facilitating an attempt to remove K400,000 belonging to NAC.
Police alleged that on March 9, 2021, Agisa then-Civil Aviation Minister, directed Kiponge in a letter to have the ministerial funds transferred to another account.
Kiponge, upon Agisa’s instruction, allegedly directed his general finance manager Noreen Gugumi to make the payment to Ambe Business Consultations Ltd’s account as Agisa had indicated.
Police stated that upon their investigation, Investment Promotion Authority’s (IPA) record showed that Ambe Business Consultations Ltd was closed on Sept 17, 2020, but its Kina Bank account was still operational.
Police said the Kina account belonged to Judith Kakaraya whose husband Dan Kakayara was the lawyer representing Kiponge and Agisa.
It was alleged that Gugumi approved a payment of K200,000 to be transferred to Ambe Business Consultations Ltd’s account on March 26, 2021, as Kiponge allegedly directed.
However, the money was not transferred due to technical issues with the account. It was further alleged that a second attempt was made on April 30, 2021, to transfer another K200,000 to the same account. The money never went through. The summary of facts also showed that the NAC board did not approve any budget for 2021.
Police said there were no provisions under the Public Finance Act, Civil Aviation Act or NAC in the constitution allowing private firms to manage ministerial funds.
Kiponge was arrested on Nov 24, and he is out on bail.
Magistrate Wakikura then ordered for Kiponge’s bail to be extended to Jan 30 for mention.

NAC to be audited, minister backs acting MD

December 13, 2022The NationalMain Stories

TRANSPORT and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt says an audit will be conducted to establish the financial status of National Airports Corporation (NAC) following the suspension of former managing director and chief executive Rex Kiponge last week.
“We will engage a financial institution to conduct a full audit on the NAC because I need to know exactly where we are financially,” he added. Financial audit firms will be invited to professionally determine the funds used in the last two years. The staff will be paid accordingly as NAC was currently financially constrained,” he added.
Schnaubelt said the appointment of Joseph Tupiri as acting NAC managing director would restore confidence and meet Government expectations.
“There were rising complaints of non-compliance and lack of it at the NAC management. Tupiri will be managing the NAC over the next three months.
“We will advertise the position for qualified persons in the country or an expatriate to head the NAC in three months’ time,” he added.

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