Wantok Nius

Port Moresby - The four men allegedly involved in an attempt to smuggle more than 500 kg of cocaine to Australia are yet to be charged, the Post Courier (6 August, 2020) reports.  According to the Police's Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Donald Yamasombi, they wanted to be sure of the charges before taking action. He said there were other avenues of the inquiry that are opening up and they wanted the exhaust these before laying charges. Yamasombi also added that the men were assisting police with their investigations.  Meanwhile, journalist Simon Eroro has come out on social media implicating rogue policemen trying to tamper with evidence. He posted that a Hevilift helicopter was seen at the crime scene a day after the crash trying to airlift the wreckage of the Cessna 402C twin engine.  Photograph shared by Eroro on Facebook showing a helicopter at the hidden airstrip the next day.        Eroro said other policemen arrived before any ev...

Port Moresby - Firebrand politician Gary Juffa is calling for Papua New Guinean authorities who harbored Indonesian fugitive Djoko Tjandra to be investigated and charged.  The Oro Governor made the call after Tjandra was arrested in Malaysia and repatriated to Indonesia after more than a decade on the run. According to the Jakarta Post , Tjandra spent 11 years on the run.  Juffa had raised the issue back in 2012 warning the government from dealing with Tjandra. He says the former government knowingly harbored and conducted business with the international fugitive.  He added that the recent arrest should signal an investigation into those involved in harboring Tjandra and commended the Malaysian police for taking action - something PNG authorities could have done long ago.  Juffa also said the arrest should be a wake up call for PNG to improve her security systems including immigration, foreign affairs, customs and other state agencies.     Tjandra fle...

Port Moresby - Four Papua New Guinean nationals have been arrested in connection to the recent million kina cocaine hau l. According to Commissioner of Police David Manning , two male suspects were arrested at the Sunset Lodge in Papa-Lealea on July 30 and a further two were arrested at Manu Autoport the next day with around AU$40,000 (PGK100,000) cash in their possession along with a few electrical items intended as gifts for locals who had assisted them. Manning said the suspects confessed the location of the drugs which was retrieved the same day.    Meanwhile, Post Courier (04 August) has reported a "highly placed intelligence official" saying high profile Papua New Guineans, politicians. rogue members of security forces and businessmen are linked to the drug trade.  The source said their reports indicate the pilot, David John Cutmore, had flown numerous "drug sorties" from Australia into Papua New Guinea. He further added that certain elements in Foreign Affai...

Port Moresby - Police in Port Moresby suspect that a Cessna 402C twin engine plane that crashed in a hidden airstrip near Papa-Lealea was part of a drug running operation. It is believed that the crashed happened during takeoff.  Police suspect that the pilot was supposed to pickup the drugs between 1 pm - 2:30 pm on Sunday but crashed while attempting to takeoff.  The pilot, David John Cutmore, has reportedly turned himself in at the Australian High Commission and is assisting police with their investigations.  Cutmore, who does not have a passport, has been charged with illegal entry, according to the acting Chief Immigration Officer Robert Kennedy. It is understood that he is being interrogated by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers in a secure location in the city.   Meanwhile, according to an investigation by PNGiCentra l , the Cessna 402C twin engine with registration number VH-TSI is registered to Port Moresby based company RAVENPOL NO. 69 Limited ...

Police Commissioner, Gari Baki The claim of an assassination plot by Madang MP, Brian Krammer, has resulted in Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, stating that the parliamentarian and former Task Force Sweep chairman, Sam Koim, would be called in for questioning. According to the Post Courier (October 18), this is in relation to the 2017 murder of former Border Development Authority (BDA) chairman, Fred Konga, which is subject of an ongoing investigation. Konga was killed in August 2017. He was allegedly followed and ambushed by 2 vehicles that blocked his way along the Poreporena Freeway in Waigani as he was heading to his home in Hohola. Baki said the social media post by Krammer preempted some very sensitive information which was of interest to police. Meanwhile, Koim has come out publicly to clarify that his private message between Krammer was to ensure the politician took precaution when moving around, and did not specify an details. I did not tell Brian that he woul...

A very vocal Member of Parliament in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is claiming there is a plot to assassinate him by foreign nationals with political connections living in the country. Madang MP, Brian Krammer, posted on social media site Facebook that he was contacted 2 days ago by former Chairman of Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, alerting him of a possible plot to have him killed. Although Krammer did not mention any specific details, he said he had credible information naming '2 Chinese nationals and 3 Western expatriates'. He added that they plan to kill him in the same manner in which Fred Konga was assassinated, and they would make it look like the Australians did it. Krammer claims that a number people who are being engaged to kill him were also behind the murder of Konga in August 2017. He said Konga was killed to silence him over his alleged involvement in the hijack of K12 million in K100 bank notes which were destined for Germany to be destroyed. These notes we su...

Manus Province’s deputy District Administrator (DA), Mr Paso Pohei, has been arrested and charged with official corruption, The National (April 19) reports. Mr Pohei, 55, was charged following investigations by the fraud squad. Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Inspector David Yapu said the suspect was investigated and arrested following allegations of misuse of K100, 000 allocated by the National Government to support fisheries activities in the island province. Inspector Yapu said other officers implicated in the misuse of public funds would also be arrested and charged accordingly. Mr Pohei was released on K1000 bail and will appear before the Lorengau District Court for mention today.

The Papua New Guinea (PNG) diplomat who was arrested in Seoul, Korea in relation to sexual molestation charges has been charged accordingly by his departmental head, Loop PNG reports. The 40 year old diplomat allegedly molested an inebriated woman who was lying at a parking lot at the city’s Iteawon Street. The diplomat returned to the country earlier this year. Meanwhile, news of the diplomat’s misbehavior has upset minister responsible Rimbik Pato. He said upon receipt of the reports, formal disciplinary charges under the Public Service have been served on the officer by his department head. Pato said, As required under this process, the officer has been given seven days to respond to the allegations.   It is important that the officer is given fair opportunity to present his side of the story. Minister Pato also said diplomats have been warned of zero tolerance toward improper behavior while serving in overseas missions.

A Papua New Guinean diplomat at the country’s embassy in Seoul, Korea, has allegedly been sent back home after being booked for molesting a woman at a club, Yonhap News Agency reports. The 40 year old diplomat, the second secretary to the embassy, allegedly touched a young woman in her 20s who was lying inebriated at the club’s parking lot on Seoul's Itaewon Street. The incident happened around 9:30am on October 15 last year. He is also suspected of attacking an acquaintance of the woman who protested against the diplomat. The diplomat was grilled by police but managed to use his diplomatic immunity, and returned to PNG on February 2. However, the South Korean foreign embassy has been notified that the diplomat will be punished in the country according to PNG laws.

PORT MORESBY : A failed attempted assassination was carried out on the National Capital District’s Metropolitan Superintendent Benjamin Turi’s life yesterday morning. According to the Post Courier (February 19), an old hand grenade was booby trapped and attached to the footpath beside his house at the Tasion barracks at Gerehu. Turi’s duaghters are lucky to be alive after his eldest daughter reportedly kicked the explosive away after her younger sister saw the object. “ She told me to tell dad that this thing looked like a bomb but I told her to just hurry to school as it was already getting late, I kicked it to the side and went inside ”, she said. The device went off seconds later knocking the young woman unconscious. According to bomb experts the family is lucky that the grenade was old and worn out, and had less impact that it would usually. Turi’s vehicle suffered damages from the shrapnel from the bomb. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Gari Baki, has reportedly recei...

Matthew Damaru An expatriate man allegedly involved in a variation scam in the construction of the Pacific Games venue was arrested by Police when he tried to leave the country, Post Courier (October 12) reports. The man, who was employed by a construction company, was arrested at the Jacksons International Airport departure lounge by fraud squad officers and his former local employees. He was about to board an Air Niugini flight to Australia. National Fraud Squad & Anti-Corruption Directorate director, Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru said the man was wanted by police for questioning over allegations of cost inflation on price of materials and labor for the construction of the games venue. Damaru said he has been questioned and released. However, his passport has been confiscated to prevent him from fleeing. Meanwhile, Damaru has written to the Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura to stop expatriates who were involved in the construction of the games venue from ...

Residents of Nabasa Drive in Madang have reported their beloved canines dognapped within a couple of days. The Post Courier (September 22) reports residents reporting 8 dogs disappearing during the night and authorities are baffled by the disappearances. According to police all dogs were kept in residential premises and all reports by owners indicate that the beloved canines were dognapped during the night. The Morea family whose beloved blue heeler was taken have reported seeing a suspicious blue Toyota Land Cruiser driving up and down the drive on the days following the disappearances. Police have assured Madang residents that they will investigate the matter soon.

A Korean manager at the Hanjung Power plant at Kanudi was killed by robbers last Saturday night, Post Courier (June 10, 2015) reports. It is alleged that the man was killed after he intercepted a pair of robbers who had held up the staff at the power station. According to the police, the robbers found themselves locked in the premises after the robbery and tried to shoot the locked gate open. The manager, upon hearing gun shots, went over to investigate and was shot. The killers are still at large and police have appealed to the public to provide any information that can lead to their arrest. It is understood that the Korean Embassy in Port Moresby has taken charge of the funeral and the man's body will be repatriated to South Korea after police investigation are completed.

A forestry company has filed a lawsuit against South Pacific Post Ltd, which owns Post Courier, and its editors regarding articles published on September 3, 4 and 19, 2014, The National (November 5) reports. The articles purportedly revealing the company’s links with known or suspected terrorist and Islamic extremists was published both in print and online, and attracted the attention of international media organizations including The Guardian and ABC . The company, Cloudy Bay Sustainable Forestry Ltd , filed a writ of summons against the newspaper claiming damages up to K584 million (US$ 200 million). In a public statement, the company said the publications were “grossly defamatory” and “published in bad faith” which resulted in the “cancellation of commercial contracts”. The company directors are seeking aggravated damages on the basis that the Post Courier editors knowingly published information that was false. Other sources of interest: Post Courier sued for US$60 ...

Ijivitari MP, David Arore The political power struggle between Ijivitari MP, David Arore, and elected Northern Governor, Gary Juffa, is far from over with the former challenging the latter to take the matter to court, Post Courier reports. Arore, who forcefully ‘ removed ’ Juffa and appointed himself Governor, maintains he is the elected Northern Governor despite other national leaders saying contrary . He said the seven local level government presidents who support him want him to maintain the seat until the 2017 elections or until the court makes a ruling. Arore also distanced the Prime Minister and his PNC party, and Sohe MP, Delilah Gore, from any involvement in the issue. He maintained that it “ is purely the politics of Oro (Northern) .” The Ijivitari MP maintains that he is the Governor elect and called on Juffa to test the illegality or legality of the move he made in court. Meanwhile, Juffa is considering legal action and may file an application in court today. ...

Milne Bay Governor Milne Bay Governor, Titus Philemon, has called on Ijivitari MP, David Arore, not to use Milne Bay as an example to the illegal removal of seating Northern Governor, Gary Juffa, Post Courier reports. In 2000, Dame Josephine Abaijah, was removed as Milne Bay Governor through a vote of no confidence motion as is on record the first time a vote was taken against a seating Governor. However, Philemon claims the circumstances and reasons were different and all was done according to proper legal advice. Mr Philemon is cited saying: “Mr Arore cannot use the Milne Bay precedent to justify his actions and I take exception to the manner in which he and his supporters went about pursuing their political agenda. I believe what they did was unconstitutional, unparliamentarily and criminal. They cannot refer to the vote that I led in 2000 and claim it as precedent.” Meanwhile, reports have surfaced on thecriticpng.blogspot.com that a drunken Arore called on popular ta...

DPM, Leo Dion Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Leo Dion, has thrown public support toward Northern Province’s ‘removed’ Governor, Gary Juffa, according to the Post Courier . Dion, who is also Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government (PLLG), reportedly said Juffa is still the legitimate Governor and the actions by Ivijitari MP David Arore and his supporters were a threat to national unity and security. He will also be sending a fact finding team to Popondetta to get to the root of the issue. Meanwhile, Arore has denied claims by Juffa that his actions were illegal. He said his removal of Juffa as Governor by members of the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) was in accordance with Section 20 of the Organic Law on PLLG. Arore claims to have support from 2 thirds of the PEC members and Sohe MP and Minister for Community Development, Delilah Gore. In another interesting twist, Gore has been accused by Juffa of using more than K17 000 of ministeria...

'Removed' Northern Governor Northern Province’s Governor, Gary Juffa, who has been outspoken against illegal logging in the province, was forcefully removed from office by Ijivitari MP, David Arore, and his band of followers including 7 members of the provincial assembly, Post Courier reports. In an unprecedented move yesterday, Arore and the members met in the provincial capital, Popondetta, and installed the MP as Governor. Juffa and the provincial assembly clerk were reported not present. Juffa had boycotted the meet in light of an impending no confidence motion and was in Port Moresby during the hostile takeover. He has also indicated that action by the local politicians was criminal and a formal complaint has been lodged with Police Commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki. Juffa said, “This is a criminal act under section 398 (a) (1) of the Criminal Code which they have committed a statutory offense of willful damage to property.” Meanwhile, anti-corruption blog PNG Ex...

An Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in Port Moresby reportedly attacked and severely injured a patron at the Royal Papua Yacht Club the previous weekend, the Post Courier reports . The incident allegedly took place on October 17 when ADF personnel were in Papua New Guinea (PNG) providing mentoring and training assistance to the PNGDF. An eyewitness account says the ADF personnel assaulted the patron and pushed him against a wet bar door which shattered; badly lacerated his head and hands. In an email to the Post Courier , a spokesperson for the ADF confirmed the incident. The ADF personnel was attached to the Combat Service Support Mentoring Team and was in the country to provide mentoring and training assistant to the PNGDF.

Graffiti is a sight for sore eyes in Port Moresby and most of the time these vandals get away with it. However, there comes a time when they are caught red handed like when Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa caught two graffiti vandals in the act. On his Facebook wall, Mr Bawa posted this after catching the pair. “They thought they would get away until I caught both red handed and gave them a nice face painting and told them to clean it up before taking both into custody. Our youths don't have respect for public property.” Bawa also said both are Grade 4 students at Kaugere Primary School. He will be visiting the school tomorrow to talk with the teacher and students about graffiti vandalism. Pictures below are courtesy of Andy Bawa's Facebook post.