27 Sep 2018

Vanuatu's police commissioner suspended

3:42 pm on 27 September 2018

Vanuatu's Commissioner of Police has been suspended by President Obed Moses Tallis.

Vanuatu president Tallis Obed Moses

Obed Moses Tallis Photo: Dan McGarry

The Daily Post newspaper reported that no official reason had been given for Albert Nalpini's suspension but Mr Tallis is said to have acted on the advice of the Head of the Police Service Commission, Willie Vira.

Sources within the Vanuatu Police said the suspension was over administrative issues within the force.

Mr Nalpini was appointed last year in May by the late President Baldwin Lonsdale, just before his passing in June.

He was appointed after a legal battle which saw the Supreme Court order the Police Service Commission to forward their recommendation to the Head of State.

The commission has not commented on the issue and their offices were closed yesterday.