A former Secretary for the PNG Works and Implementation Department was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence for abuse of office.

Joel Luma, 61 from East Sepik province was arraigned in the Waigani Committal Court before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli.

Mr Luma was the Secretary of Works between July 2009 and February 2013. He approved 44 minor works contracts valued at K9.5 million to Road Stoa Limited. From the 44 contracts, the Court found that 11 contracts awarded in 2009 and 2010 had not circumvented the procurement processes.

However, 16 contracts awarded in 2011 had been issued certificates of inexpediency without authority. These contracts were also deliberately structured to be within his financial delegation limit as Secretary and public tender requirements. Additionally, Mr Luma made false statements in an internal memo to the finance division to fast tract payments to the company. He also deliberately attempted to conceal his conduct from senior officers of the Department.

The Court found the accused to have wilfully abused the authority of his office and convicted him of one count of abuse of office.

Mr Luma was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Following an appeal, the conviction was upheld in 2023.