Senior Bougainville police official faces K3.5 million fraud charges

A senior Bougainville Police Service official has appeared in court facing serious corruption, fraud and money laundering charges involving millions of Kina.

Moses Kulapia, aged 60 from East New Britain, and Provincial Administration Officer of the Bougainville Police Service was arrested by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, following a complaint from the Ombudsman Commission.

He was picked up by investigators and detained at the Buka Police Station, before appearing in the Buka District Court this morning to be formally read his charges.

Kulapia faces 29 charges consisting 10 counts of Money Laundering, 10 Counts of False Pretense and 9 counts of Misappropriation.

Court documents allege Kulapia of diverting more than K3.5 million between 2017 and 2023 from various official police funds into Moniters Reality Trading, a private company which he owns, benefitting himself and members of his family.

Senior Provincial Magistrate Bruce Tasikul, read all the 29 charges to Kulapia in court on Tuesday.

Kulapia’s lawyer, Desmond Nilkare from the Office of the Public Solicitor, moved a bail application, stating medical grounds and work commitments, requiring his client to travel out of the region to attend to important meetings of the police.

Prosecutor Sergeant Chris Markoe, did not oppose bail, however, asked that bail be set at K20,000, saying the offences are serious.

Lawyer Nilkare opposed the limit, saying it would be too much for his client to afford, suggesting K5,000 instead, which the court agreed to and imposed.

The case has been adjourned to August 28 for police to complete their investigation and furnish further evidence to the court.

Magistrate Tasikul said if there was insufficient evidence against Kulapia, the case will be struck out, but if there is enough evidence, the matter will be committed to the National Court.