LCC could probe Minister Kologeto on alleged ‘secret plan’ to takeover constituency property
AN alleged secret plan by senior Minister and Member of Parliament for South Vella La Vella Frederick Kologeto for the family takeover of Vella Development Company Ltd has been uncovered.
Hon Kologeto is the Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration. His alleged takeover plan has now been reported to the Leadership Code Commission.
Retired Magistrate Esther Lelapitu OBE reported the matter in a letter dated 7th June 2022.
Ms Lelapitu who comes from Vonunu Village, also on Vella La Vella, said she is lodging the complaint with the Leadership Code Commission, saying she believes “the Commission has the jurisdiction to deal with this issue.”
“The Honorable for South Vella La Vella has been using the Vella Development Company Ltd for his personal benefit and for the benefit of his close family member. I have document showing the different business that operate under the Vella Development Company Ltd,” Ms Lelapitu said.
“All these small business(es) were own(ed) by the relative of Hon Kologeto and they also benefitted from these small business(es). The small business(es) that carry on business under the Vella La Vella Company Ltd are ZECKY, ESCO HOLDING and South Vella La Vella Holding Company Limited,” she said in her report on Form LC 4, marked Strictly Confidential.
Solomon Star has obtained a copy of the document.
Ms Lelapitu said the Vella Development Company Ltd is communally-owned and should have one director from each village around Vella.
“However, Hon Kologeto put his relative’s name to be a director and signatory for those company(ies) under the cover-up of South Vella La Vella Growth Centre. Hon Kologeto used the RCDF funds to develop the PE land registered under the name Vella Development Company Ltd for the benefit of his own family and relative.
“All the RCDF fund were used for the operation of the following business(es), ZECKY, ESCO HOLDING and South Vella La Vella Holding Company Ltd. He abused the RCDF by saying that he spent it on the South Vella La Vella Growth Centre but instead he used it for the benefit of his family through those family business(es) namely ZECKY, ESCO HOLDING and South Vella La Vella Holding Company Ltd,” she said.
Ms Lelapitu said she had evidence that Hon Kologeto and his family had “applied to the Commissioner of Lands and (are) planning to transfer to the PE land to themselves.”
“Vella Development Company Ltd is a well-established registered company and was registered on the 17th January 2022.
“I ask the integrity institution to deal with this issue independently so that truth must prevail in whatever action that Hon Kologeto does,” the letter said.
Minister Kologeto could not be reached for comments last night.
By ALFRED SASAKO
