Watchdog prevents suspension of fraud and anti-corruption director
AN attempt by acting Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki to suspend Royal PNG Constabulary director of fraud and anti-corruption Mathew Damaru and his assistant Timothy Gitua yesterday failed when the Ombudsman Commission intervened.
According to highly placed sources within the constabulary, the acting commissioner issued directives for the two officers to meet with him at 1pm yesterday to be served their suspensions. But a letter from the Ombudsman Commission the same afternoon prevented him from issuing the suspensions.
Coincidentally the Ombudsman Commission released a statement yesterday afternoon stating that it was concerned with the recent turn of events.
"In particular, the violation of a lawful court order, the disbanding of the Task Force Sweep Team, the appointment of acting Police Commissioner Mr Vaki, decommissioning of attorney general and justice minister Kerenga Kua, the suspensions of the police investigator Thomas Eluh and the deputy police commissioner operations Simon Kauba," the commission said.
The statement signed by Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua and Ombudsman Phoebe Sangetari stated that the actions taken "had no doubt caused voluminous doubts, fears and suspicions in the minds of many Papua New Guineas and the international community."
"Many are asking whether the actions are legitimate. For instance, were due processes followed in the appointment’ of the acting Police Commissioner? If so, who initiated it and what was the criteria applied? Who were the candidates proposed, and were they cleared of any pending investigations and or court cases? Where the integrity checks conducted? Did the acting Police Commissioner took Oath of Office? Was he sworn in before exercising the powers of the Police Commissioner culminating in the actions he took?" the commission said in the statement.
It further stated that it was aware of the court actions taken by some of those who were aggrieved against the bodies that made the decisions.
"No doubt the courts will dispense justice accordingly. However, as the actions are occasioned by leaders OC is duty bound to scrutinize their actions under the Leadership Code. Nothing should prevent OC from referring the leaders for prosecution in a Leadership Tribunal if it finds that they have misconduct in Office," the Commission said.
It also warned leaders to exercise caution, remain hesitant and restrain themselves from such actions as their participation could trigger further investigations by the commission.
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OC Rigo Lua Acting Police Commision Mr Vaki
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According to highly placed sources within the constabulary, the acting commissioner issued directives for the two officers to meet with him at 1pm yesterday to be served their suspensions. But a letter from the Ombudsman Commission the same afternoon prevented him from issuing the suspensions.
Coincidentally the Ombudsman Commission released a statement yesterday afternoon stating that it was concerned with the recent turn of events.
"In particular, the violation of a lawful court order, the disbanding of the Task Force Sweep Team, the appointment of acting Police Commissioner Mr Vaki, decommissioning of attorney general and justice minister Kerenga Kua, the suspensions of the police investigator Thomas Eluh and the deputy police commissioner operations Simon Kauba," the commission said.
The statement signed by Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua and Ombudsman Phoebe Sangetari stated that the actions taken "had no doubt caused voluminous doubts, fears and suspicions in the minds of many Papua New Guineas and the international community."
"Many are asking whether the actions are legitimate. For instance, were due processes followed in the appointment’ of the acting Police Commissioner? If so, who initiated it and what was the criteria applied? Who were the candidates proposed, and were they cleared of any pending investigations and or court cases? Where the integrity checks conducted? Did the acting Police Commissioner took Oath of Office? Was he sworn in before exercising the powers of the Police Commissioner culminating in the actions he took?" the commission said in the statement.
It further stated that it was aware of the court actions taken by some of those who were aggrieved against the bodies that made the decisions.
"No doubt the courts will dispense justice accordingly. However, as the actions are occasioned by leaders OC is duty bound to scrutinize their actions under the Leadership Code. Nothing should prevent OC from referring the leaders for prosecution in a Leadership Tribunal if it finds that they have misconduct in Office," the Commission said.
It also warned leaders to exercise caution, remain hesitant and restrain themselves from such actions as their participation could trigger further investigations by the commission.
PNG Today/Post Courier
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