By JOE GURINA
THE first term MP for Goialala, Casmiro Aia wants prudent leadership during his term thus he is taking first step to clear up all the alleged misuse of public funds under former regime.
Aia indicated that there are evidences of serious allegations of cross misusing of public funds involving hundreds of thousand for the Goialala district and will lay a formal complaint for police investigation.
He said these were serious allegations that need to be investigated for the sake of the people of Goilala who should have benefitted from these funds.
Mr. Aia said the funds allocated for the 2022 Common Roll Update in Tapini believed to be gone missing.
He said there was no reason for service providers to front up at the PNG Electoral Commission office demanding payments when in fact the funds to cater for this were allocated by the Goilala DDA last year.
Aia said a total amount of K83, 500 was given out in cash to the Tapini LLG to conduct the common roll update exercise.
He reiterated that the DDA has allocated funds for the program and why were people waiting for the Electoral Commission to pay them.
The MP urged the Tapini LLG manager Kisito Samuel to come out clear on the issue and explain why people were not paid and the whereabouts of the funds.
Goilala District Chief Executive Titus Girau has also confirmed the misuse these funds.
Casmiro also raised concerns on the allegations into the misuse of COVID-19 funds under former regime.
He specified that the COVID-19 funds totaling K777, 000 during late William Samb’s term involved flaws in drawing down of the funds.
Aia clarified that the former MP had never signed on the Form 11 but it was only the District CEO and the District Treasurer who had signed on the Form 11, which he added was contrary to the financial instruction and thus deemed fraud.
He indicated that K99, 000 from that funding allocated to put up billboards in the district were allegedly misused and a further K200, 000 for medical supplies was never received by the district.
He added that a signatory forged case at Ela Motors by one of the district officers will also go before police investigation.
The MP said to lay a formal complaint before the police for an immediate investigation.
