A FEMALE officer with the Manus treasury was sentenced by the Lorengau National Court to three years in jail for misappropriating K13, 050 belonging to the treasury office.
On July 5th, Justice Vergil Narakobi found Emma Raku from Bipi Island, Bisikani Soparibeu LLG, Lorengau guilty of stealing and sentenced her to three years in prison with hard labour.
However, the court further suspended the sentence and ordered her to pay or compensate the amount stolen within 24 months.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Inspector David Yapu said that between July 2018 and May 2020, the accused was working as payment and receiving officer with the Provincial Treasury Department.
She was responsible for balancing up actual cash received against the receipt, write a bank deposit and bank daily collection as soon as possible.
However, between that period of time she failed to deposit a total of K13, 050 into the bank and instead used the monies for her personal use.
PPC Yapu said he was pleased with the court results. He however said officers working in public offices should perform their work with diligence and honesty.
Mr Yapu said public officers are placed in a position of trust especially in dealing with public money and must not abuse their position.
