More ructions at top of PNG police force

10:52 am on 18 May 2020

There are more ructions at the top of the Papua New Guinea police force with two senior officers charged with misappropriation, abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud.

Papua New Guinea police

Papua New Guinea police Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Assistant Commissioner, Sylvester Kalaut and the director of police human resources, Bob Kerrey, were charged over the weekend.

According to the police media team the charges centre on allegations both men misused their access to a police pension account to illegally obtain $US266,545 dollars.

Assistant Commissioner, Hodges Ette, said these events involving the two senior officers have been a concern for police management for some time.

Meanwhile, in a separate development earlier last week Assistant Commissioner Kalaut, has launched a National Court challenge of the appointment of David Manning as Commissioner.

Mr Kalaut, with a former senior officer, Fred Yakasa, has asserted that Mr Manning was not competent to take the job because he lacked the mandatory tertiary qualification, along with proceduaral failings.

Their lawyer, David Dataona, told the court that both Mr Kalaut and Mr Yakasa were shortlisted for the commissioner's role, along with Mr Manning, and that Mr Kalaut was the front runner.

Mr Dataona also accused the Police Minister Bryan Kramer of issuing biased statements on social media during the selection period.

The National Court has ordered leave for a judicial review to be granted to the two men.

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