Mr Achary outside the Court yesterday

Day 2 of the trial of Parmod Achary, General Manager (GM) of Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF), revealed that mothers allegedly refrained from reporting him to the institution’s disciplinary body or the police due to fear of losing their jobs. Cynthia Kammy Ala, the first witness on the stand, expressed her concerns about reporting Mr. Achary in court, stating her fear of termination. “I am a mother and I have kids. I know who the GM is, I fear of losing my job,” she testified.

When questioned by GM Achary’s lawyer, Mark Hurley, on why she didn’t report the Defendant during the Ombudsman’s search warrant in 2019 and the subsequent Civil Case against VNPF on September 21 the same year, Mrs. Ala clarified that those cases were unrelated to the incident that occurred at the VNPF building and was currently being heard in court. She alleged that Mr. Achary had inappropriately touched her near the printing machine at the VNPF office.

Mr. Hurley argued that the incident occurred due to the narrow space between the printing machine and the door of the GM’s office, but Mrs. Ala countered, stating that the space was not significantly narrow and allowed for a walkway. She firmly asserted, “he did” when asked if Mr. Achary had a problem with his eyes and had touched her.

In the afternoon, Nathalie Merick, the second prosecution witness, testified that Mr. Achary shook her hand one morning and allegedly forced her to touch him inappropriately. Recounting the incident from 2021, she revealed that she had informed a staff member about the incident but refrained from telling her husband due to her fear of job loss.

Mr. Hurley presented a sketch of the incident’s location in court and contested Mrs. Merick’s testimony, claiming that such an event had never occurred. Both witnesses who testified yesterday are no longer employed by VNPF, as they submitted their resignation letters. With four prosecution witnesses heard thus far, the trial will resume at 9am today.

Day 2 of the trial of Parmod Achary, General Manager (GM) of Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF), revealed that mothers allegedly refrained from reporting him to the institution’s disciplinary body or the police due to fear of losing their jobs.

Cynthia Kammy Ala, the first witness on the stand, expressed her concerns about reporting Mr. Achary in court, stating her fear of termination. “I am a mother and I have kids. I know who the GM is, I fear of losing my job,” she testified.

When questioned by GM Achary’s lawyer, Mark Hurley, on why she didn’t report the Defendant during the Ombudsman’s search warrant in 2019 and the subsequent Civil Case against VNPF on September 21 the same year, Mrs. Ala clarified that those cases were unrelated to the incident that occurred at the VNPF building and was currently being heard in court. She alleged that Mr. Achary had inappropriately touched her near the printing machine at the VNPF office.

Mr. Hurley argued that the incident occurred due to the narrow space between the printing machine and the door of the GM’s office, but Mrs. Ala countered, stating that the space was not significantly narrow and allowed for a walkway. She firmly asserted, “he did” when asked if Mr. Achary had a problem with his eyes and had touched her.

In the afternoon, Nathalie Merick, the second prosecution witness, testified that Mr. Achary shook her hand one morning and allegedly forced her to touch him inappropriately. Recounting the incident from 2021, she revealed that she had informed a staff member about the incident but refrained from telling her husband due to her fear of job loss.

Mr. Hurley presented a sketch of the incident’s location in court and contested Mrs. Merick’s testimony, claiming that such an event had never occurred. Both witnesses who testified yesterday are no longer employed by VNPF, as they submitted their resignation letters.

With four prosecution witnesses heard thus far, the trial will resume at 9am today.