WARTOTO PROPERTIES ORDERED BACK

PNG Businessman Eremas Wartoto. Image credit: The Age

The Waigani National Court has ordered the state to give back certain properties belonging to controversial businessman Eremas Wartoto.

Justice Panuel Mogish ruled yesterday, that certain properties which the Public Prosecutor took restraining order against, be released back to Wartoto.

The Public Prosecutor took out the restraining order on Wartoto's properties in August, after he was arrested and charged for alleged misappropriation of funds for renovations at the Kerevat National High School.

Mr Wartoto submitted in his application last September that the properties in dispute were not bought from the money he was allege to have misused. 

He says the land in question were purchased well before the stated time mentioned by the Prosecutor. 

Therefore, the land and properties were not proceeds from the alleged unlawful activity. 

Justice Mogish when granting the orders says there were no legal reasons warranting the continued exclusion of the specified property. 

The land and properties belonging to Mr Wartoto and his children are located in Vanimo, Madang, Lae and Kimbe respectively.