Former University of Papua New Guinea Bursar Charged Over Alleged K602,785 Fraud

 Former University of Papua New Guinea Bursar Charged Over Alleged K602,785 Fraud

A former acting and deputy bursar of the University of Papua New Guinea has been arrested and charged by police in PNG over an alleged fraud scheme involving more than K602,000 and the manipulation of the university’s student database.

The National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) said its investigation uncovered alleged unauthorised access to the University Student Information System (USIS), along with attacks on the university’s accounting system between 2018 and 2021.

NFACD director Detective Robert Volo said the suspect allegedly accessed the USIS database on 20 occasions between December 2020 and March 2021 and carried out fraudulent transfers amounting to K602,785.87.

Police also alleged that the former university official recruited students to act as intermediaries in the fraudulent registration of 194 students for Semester Two of 2021.

An internal audit by UPNG found that the university suffered a loss of K445,860 from the alleged scheme.

Following the audit findings, the UPNG Council approved the de-registration of all 194 students affected by the fraudulent registrations.

Police further alleged that the suspect manipulated student fee credits, including funds from government grants such as the Kompiam Ambum District Services Improvement Program (DSIP).

According to police, the manipulated credits were used to place funds into accounts belonging to people who were not entitled to receive them. The suspect was also allegedly involved in facilitating unauthorised degree certifications.

Detective Volo said police began investigating the matter after receiving a formal complaint, with the investigation commencing in May 2024.

He said arrest warrants were subsequently issued by the Waigani Committal Court.

The suspect was apprehended and interviewed on August 4, 2026, before being detained at the Boroko Metropolitan Cells.

Police have not released the suspect’s identity as investigations and court proceedings continue.