Board fired over misuse allegations

CHAIRMAN and board members of the Milne Bay Properties Ltd were sacked yesterday and referred for investigation on the alleged misappropriation of K2.7 million. The sacking by the Milne Bay Provincial Assembly follows the tabling of a damming investigation report on the administrative and financial affairs of the provincial business arm that implicates former governor Titus Philemon, former provincial administrator and MBPL chairman Hau’ofa Sailasa, former general manager Jack Bagita and the directors, including Wilfred Leleca. They were replaced by a new board with Nako Fisheries principal John Luke Critten as chairman, chief executive of the PNG Sustainable Development Program Robert Igara as deputy chairman, Milne Bay provincial legal officer Simon Alberic as company secretary and the following board members: Joseph Smith, Reverend Tevita Talanoa, Ephraim Yabom and Gem Moyona. The damning report, which followed every money paper trail, was conducted by consultant firm Quest Investigation International Ltd. The report recommended Mr Philemon, Mr Sailasa, Mr Bagita and the directors be referred to various law enforcement enforcement agencies for further investigations and prosecution for misappropriating K2.7 million. Mr Bagita, Mr Philemon and Paul Nindipla, of Guinn PKF, were whip lashed in the Milne Bay Provincial Assembly yesterday in the report and overview presented by Tim Neville yesterday.