PNG Higher Education Secretary Czuba arrested and Charged

 The Secretary for Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology DHERST Fr. Jan Czuba was arrested and charged yesterday with one count of official corruption and nine counts of abuse of office.

National Fraud and Anti-corruption directorate Director, Mathew Damaru, said it is alleged Fr Jan, in his capacity as Secretary engaged services of a Polish Company - PCG Academia - to provide and manage software facilities for the on-line applications and on-line selection program without following the proper procurement process to secure the procurement contracts.

Mr. Damaru said it is also alleged that Fr. Jan engaged his business partners and associates on the expenses of the Department on goods and services from his private companies in which he authorised payments.  

Police investigation established that the procurement of software services from PCG Academia was illegal and cannot be enforced.

However, despite the contract being illegal and not enforceable, DHERST paid more than K4.2 million under the purported contract from 2017 to 2020.

The police investigation also revealed that Fr Jan had used his office to engage his long-time associates and business partners and a consultant for the software program.   

Police say there were no public tenders called for but were handpicked by Fr Jan.

He will appear in court next week and is out on K3 000 police bail.

​NBC News  / PNG Today

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