Wantok Nius

Port Moresby - The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary's (RPNGC) Internal Affairs Directorate (IAD) office has been closed temporarily to allow for an internal audit.  In a statement released yesterday (29 June), Commissioner of Police, David Manning, said there were concerns raised about the high office rentals and other payments for the IAD so the office had to be closed pending an internal audit. However, he also said the IAD would continue to work through their provincial offices.  However, this does not stop the work of Internal Affairs officers. They continue to work. We have Internal Affairs Units in all provincial police commands and they continue to vigorously investigate all public complaints against police. Meanwhile, Manning has also directed an investigation into the handling of domestic violence fatality, 19 year old Jennelyn Kennedy, in the 2 years leading up to her untimely death, allegedly at the hands of her partner, Bhosip Kaiwi.  Manning said initia...

Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities have reported 3 new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) this week. According to the reports, the 3 cases are an expat resident and two locals.  The expat identified as Case 9 , a 44 year old male officer with the Australian Defense Force (ADF), has been repatriated to Australia. He called the toll free number after feeling unwell on June 9. Case 10 is also a member of the disciplined forces.  Case 10 is reportedly a 27 year old female with the PNG Defense Force (PNGDF) at Murray Barracks but lives offsite in a shared accommodation. Case 11 is a female and close contact of Case 10. These two cases were discovered in a 24 hour period. The 2 local cases are doing well and being monitored by health authorities.   Meanwhile, health authorities are still investigating the source of infections.        

The Police Commander of the National Capital District (NCD) Zone Three (3), Senior Inspector Tovere, has died at the Port Moresby General Hospital after he was allegedly attacked by drunk off duty military personnel last night at the ATS settlement in the outskirts of the city. According to Kalang FM's news website , Late Tovere was responding reports of black market sale of alcohol at the settlement when he was attacked. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner - Operations, Donald Yamasombi, said the culprits have been identified and negotiations are currently underway with military police to have the suspects arrested. Yamasombi said that police were only acting according to the State of Emergency Orders and also called for police personnel in the city to refrain from retaliation. 

A threat of bomb attack in Western Highland's capital, Mt Hagen has turned out to be a hoax, according to the State of Emergency (SOE) Controller, David Manning. State of Emergency Controller, David Manning In an update published yesterday , Manning stated that he was informed of an anonymous caller that threatened to bomb the Kagamuga Airport and then threatened to bomb an Air Niugini aircraft that was kept overnight at the same airport. The same caller allegedly called Heli Solutions and made similar threats. On Saturday 2 May, whilst travelling to Mt Hagen onto Porgera I was informed of a call from an anonymous person threatening to bomb Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen. The caller stated that he was not happy with the government and therefore will bomb Kagamuga Airport. The caller called back later threatening to bomb an Air Niugini aircraft that was kept overnight in Mt Hagen. The same called also called Heli Solutions in Mt Hagen and made similar threats. The threats we...

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...

Justin Tkatchenko The minister responsible for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko, has responded to the claims made by the members of the Opposition regarding the purchase of 40 Masareti MY 19 Quattroporte from Italy to transport visiting leaders during the leaders’ summit next month . According to the Post Courier (October 17) , Tkatchenko alleges that all claims made by members of the Opposition are lies and ‘absolute rubbish’. He said the there was a certain level of luxury required for the global event, the vehicles will be bought by the private sector at cost and the Maseratis will be priced lower than a Toyota Land Cruiser VX. However, the minister has not addressed questions regarding the procurement process of these vehicles despite saying that it was authorized by the National Executive Council (NEC). Member for Sinesine-Yongomugl Kerenga Kua on FM 100’s talk-back show queried why the procurement of the Maseratis went through a third party in Sri Lanka when there are dealers in...

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...