Police detectives from the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate (NFACD) have arrested and formally charged a former Acting and Deputy Bursar of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) over an alleged K602,785.87 fraud and database manipulation scheme.
Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Detective Robert Volo in a statement yesterday said police investigations found that between 2018 and 2021, the suspect allegedly used unauthorized access to the University Student Information System (USIS) and attacked the university’s accounting system.
The police did not fully disclose the suspect’s identity.
Police alleged that between December 2020 and March 2021, the suspect accessed the USIS database on 20 separate occasions to execute fraudulent transfers totaling K602,785.87.
Police also alleged that the suspect recruited student intermediaries to facilitate the fraudulent registration of 194 students for Semester Two 2021.
An internal UPNG audit verified that the university was defrauded of K445,860.00 as a result, leading the University Council to approve the de-registration of all 194 affected students.
It was further alleged that the suspect manipulated fee credits including funds allocated from government grants such as the Kompiam Ambum District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) to unlawfully credit non-qualifying accounts and facilitated unauthorized degree certifications.
Mr. Volo said following a formal complaint and extensive investigation commencing in May 2024, arrest warrants were issued by the Waigani Committal Court where the suspect was apprehended and interviewed on 04th August 2026.
The suspect was later arrested and detained at the Boroko Metropolitan Cells.