Corruption case before court

BY FRANCO NEBAS

THE Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELC) of Papua New Guinea has taken several of its senior employers to court on corruption related charges.
The first case involves church Finance Secretary James Pena, and ELC-PNG against a lessee of a prime property in Top Town, the other against three whistle blowers, and the last one against nine organizers of several protests in March.
The protests were addressed by Church Secretary Albert Tokave and legal adviser Dr Eric Kwa on April 11. They were described as an eruption of strong under currents of dissent against the church's management.
The church head office had grounded to a halt last week when all its workers at Ampo, Lae, walked out of their offices and sat outside the rain trees last Wednesday and Thursday. This happened after two whistle blowers, church valuer Andie Aitikus and business arm, Ampo Risk's, general manager Albert Selmbia were arrested and detained for two days and denied bail by police. Another female employee of Ampo Risk, Nancy Raymond, was missed by police arresting officers.
While the workers were sitting under the trees waiting for Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia to be released, Assisting Bishop Zau Rapa lashed out at church worker, former journalist Chris Donald, and accused him of tarnishing his name in newspapers.
Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia were detained by the police fraud squad last Tuesday on accusations of stealing close to K80,000 according to Finance Secretary James Pena. But church workers refuted the allegations in an affidavit stating that Mr Pena had over-stepped his responsibilities. They described his claims as "based on personal vendetta and retaliation and not on sound judgment". The allegations were referred to the church ombudsman in February.
The ombudsman, Goroka-based lawyer Brian Koningi, is currently at Ampo conducting investigations into the allegations against Mr. Pena. Much of the complaints raised in affidavits filed in the Lae district court last week accused Mr. Pena of entering into business deals without the approval of the church council, the highest administrative decision making body of the ELC church.
Mrs. Aitikus and Mr. Selmbia appeared in court last Thursday but the case was adjourned to the 15th of this month at the request of police. Mr. Pena has taken a restraining order on behalf of the church to stop the church employees from organizing any protest or going past 200 meters surrounding the church head office.