Gelu and Kua tried to steal K1.7m in another Paraka style scam
Former Solicitor General Zacchary Gelu and lawyer Mundua Kua have been recommended for prosecution for fraud by the Finance Department Commission of Inquiry over yet another theft from the people of PNG – this time in the sum of K1.7 million
In 2001, Mundua Kua in the Solicitor General’s office conspired with private lawyer Joe Wal, to fraudulently resurrect an old and out-of-date claim for damages against the State. Not only was the claim resurrected, the lawyers added 77 new plaintiffs to the claim (new plaintiffs that the Commission describes as “patently false”) and increased the amount of damages claimed from K123,000 to over K2 million.
Despite the fact the resurrected claim was out of time, there was no requisite Section 5 notice and the Solicitor General’s office had clear instructions disputing the facts of the original claim, the Solicitor General’s office consented to the changes.
Then in October 2002, Zacchary Gelu signed off on a Certificate of Judgment in the sum of K1.7 million despite the claim being patently flawed and never having been tested in court and without seeking the necessary Ministerial approval. Gelu then sent the Certificate off to the Finance Department with a covering letter asking for immediate payment.
Although by the time of the Commission hearings Joe Wal had died, his daughter Maryanne, who had taken over his legal practice, had already collected the K1.7 million from the Department of Finance. The Commission has recommended legal action to recover this money.
Read the full Commission findings on this scam here Kua and Gelu[1]
These people must face the full brunt of the law n the money must be recovered.
Iam a lay person in law but I dont want to be ambigous in my opinion on the issue but it is becoming consistent and so systematic to loot the nation’s coffers by the very people who supposed to protect.
May what they got be recouped with interests. May they be put behind bars up to a time as required under the law and they be denied bail/parole. May they be dismissed from their profession under their professional ethical guidelines guarded by their societies. May they be red tapped and never be allowed to have any jobs in the public service or any public organisations.
Leslie