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) following an investigation into an extensive financial fraud and database manipulation scheme.

According to Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Detective Robert Volo, police investigations revealed that between 2018 and 2021, the suspect leveraged unauthorized access to the University Student Information System (USIS) and targeted the university's accounting system.

Police allege 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.

Investigators further allege that the suspect recruited student intermediaries to facilitate the fraudulent registration of 194 students for the second semester of 2021.

An internal UPNG audit verified that the university lost K445,860.00 as a direct result, prompting the University Council to approve the immediate de-registration of all 194 affected students.

It is 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 facilitate unauthorized degree certifications.

Following a formal complaint and an extensive investigation that began in May 2024, arrest warrants were issued by the Waigani Committal Court.

Detective Volo confirmed the suspect was apprehended and interviewed on August 4, 2026, before being formally charged and detained at the Boroko Metropolitan Cells.