PORT MORESBY (The National/PINA) — Disgraced Northern Province Gov. Sylvanus Siembo, found guilty of misappropriating public funds, was sentenced to six years in prison but will serve only three years.
Papua New Guinea National Court Judge Justice Mark Sevua also handed down similar sentences for Copeland Gewa and Simon Sipo, found guilty of conspiring with Siembo to defraud the state of 100,000 kina (around $30,000). Siembo is the second provincial governor to be jailed in a month.
The 100,000 kina was purportedly obtained for the construction of the Bareji-Safia road in Northern Province but redirected to private company bank accounts.
Sevua said the trio were public office holders who should be severely punished for committing the offense.
