Former Deputy Secretary for the Finance Department, Paul Paraka’s co-Accused and now prisoner Jacob Yafai has been found guilty by the National Court on the four counts of Misappropriation charge and one count of abuse of office.
Presiding National Court Judge Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Gibuma Salika found Yafai Guilty on all the charges after a full trial that led to the court finding out that Mr Yafai did not verify the letter by Paul Paraka Lawyers claiming the state owed Paraka Lawyers over K36million outstanding legal bills.
Sir Salika said the then Finance Minister and now Prime Minister James Marape received the letter from Paraka Lawyers on October, 4, 2012 and on October, 5, 2012 made a foot note on the letter and addressed it to the former Secretary for finance late Steven Gibson who then sent it to Mr Yafai.
Sir Salika said from the evidence presented in court PM Marape made a footnote on the letter from Paraka Lawyers on the claim as quoted, ” please see verify and pursue” however, Mr Yafai had failed to verify the letter and proceeded to making the three seperate payments amounting to a total of K41. 8 Million, hence he is guilty of all the charge.
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