PNG POLICE MINISTER TAKEN TO TASK TO PROBE HIS COMMISSIONER OVER HIS ACTIONS, STATEMENTS

PORT MORESBY: The Parliamentary Opposition's Shadow Attorney General and spokesperson on the disciplinary forces, Kerenga Kua has called on the Minister for Police Zelta Wong to probe the actions and statements of the Police Commissioner Gary Baki in recent weeks.

Mr Kua said in a media statement: "The Police Commissioner Gari Baki should know that there are protocols in dealing with members of parliament (MP). And Mr Kramer MP made comments on the floor of Parliament. If the Commissioner has something to say towards a Member of Parliament, he should go through his Minister. In the same way that he is not answerable to the Prime Minister. He cannot call directly to any member of Parliament and issue threats and intimidation. It is unacceptable for any member of an entity responsible for upholding the law to behave in such a manner, least of all the head of the Police Force.

“It is obvious that despite the Commissioner’s long service in the RPNGC (Royal PNG Constabulary), he has shown that he is not aware of this important protocol which begs the question, what else does he not know about the duties and responsibilities of a commissioner of police? Furthermore, a police commissioner cannot call a person
dishonest without producing any evidence. Where is his evidence to make this claim that I am dishonest?

“On my part I stated last week during an Opposition media conference that it was out of character for Damaru to say that there is a lack of evidence to pursue the case against the Prime Minister. This is because during my time as Attorney General in the previous O’Neill Government, the Members of the Taskforce Sweep Team assured me that they had evidence beyond all reasonable doubt on the Prime Minister’s involvement in the payout of K71 million to Paraka Lawyers.
That was the reason why I allowed the investigations to proceed to the stage of an Application for a Warrant of Arrest.

“Therefore, it astounds me that today Damaru is quoted by the Police Commissioner as saying there is not even a prima facie evidence. One needs to ask what has happened to all the evidences? Mr Kua said.

 “The Police Minister Mr Jelta Wong should be concerned and not remain mute that Mr Baki is consistently demeaning the Office of the Police Commissioner and, making bias and premature announcements.

For Baki to also say that the Manumanu Land deal lacks evidence and that Ministers Duma and Pok do not have any case to answer to is- among other things-an abuse of power. A transaction has been made and a government entity Kumul Holdings Ltd has paid 46.6 million Kina to obtain a title over a piece of land, but no title has been forthcoming, since.  This is conclusive proof of fraud.

“It is shocking beyond comprehension that Baki should reach outrageous conclusions there are no criminal offences in both these high-profile cases."

Mr Kua says this is proof Baki is no longer independent and impartial, the foundation requirements for a respected police force.

“As recently as last week, the US and Britain put out travel alerts and declared PNG a ‘no go’ country for tourism. Criminals who preyed
on overseas tourists at Tawali Resort in Milne Bay which was previously considered ultra-safe are still at large.

“Mr Baki has a lot of REAL work that he needs to focus on instead of accusing me of being dishonest and the Opposition of speaking out of turn. He should know that it is the function of the Opposition in a democracy to highlight irregularities in the administration and
processes of government.

“Mr Baki needs to uphold the law and not demean the Office of the Commissioner by serving the parochial interests of the Government of the Day,” said Mr Kua.

PNG POLICE PLACE LID ON TWO CONTROVERSIAL HIGH PROFILE CASES INVOLVING PRIME MINISTER O'NEILL AND HIS TWO MINISTERS: PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION CLAIMS IT DOES NOT HAVE LEGAL JURISDICTION TO DO SO

DAMARU SAYS ALL AVENUES IN MANUMANU, PM's CASES COVERED

BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA of Post Courier

In a Post Courier news article, the man at the centre of the Manumanu and warrant of arrest on the Prime Minister and the closure of the investigations Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru has maintained that the investigations were closed only after all avenues and aspects of the cases were exhausted.

Mr Damaru, who is the director of the police national fraud and anti-corruption unit, said for the Manumanu land deal the year-long investigation was concluded after all files were looked at and documented.

PM O'Neill (left) and Damaru (right)

“All avenues were looked at in the year-long investigation into the Manumanu land deal and we could not find anything wrong with both senior ministers.

“In particular William Duma, now the current Minister for Public Enterprises and State Investments, he was not even the minister during the deal and he inherited the issue.”

Mr Damaru said they are tasked with investigating the cases and the reports were filed and presented to the Police Commissioner Gari Baki.

“I have filed the report and presented to the Police Commissioner who has the jurisdiction to make a call according to the report.”

Mr Damaru earlier last week said in the case of the warrant of arrest against the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, police examined the detailed rebuttal of allegations levelled against him and after the reassessment of the evidence the allegations lacked the required elements to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In turn the Police Commissioner said the report on both cases were extensive and based on that he made the decisions to close both cases.

Mr Baki said he had not been influenced and he had not been paid by any member as reiterated by several Opposition MPs, including outspoken Member for Madang Open Bryan Kramer, former prime minister Sir Mekere Morauta and Shadow Attorney-General Kerenga Kua.

“The report I received was extensive and was not a fake or a fraudulent document at all,” he said.

“As I have said many times, no one tells me what to do and no one will influence the office of the Police Commissioner, and I stand by my statement.”

Mr Baki was scathing in a media statement, in particular to Sir Mekere, when he said the continuous misleading claims about a discredited attempt to serve an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister four years ago was misleading and only served to undermine the public confidence in law enforcement operations.

Source: Post-Courier - Monday, September 3, 2018