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Punangi wanted
By JULIA DAIA BORE
A WARRANT is out for the arrest of Defence Secretary Frederick Punangi
and have him brought before the Defence inquiry to explain why he is
delaying allowances for the funding of the inquiry.
The arrest warrant authorises police and the military to arrest Mr
Punangi on sight. The warrant also stops Mr Punangi and his family from
travelling out of Port Moresby, either domestically or internationally;
and the notification has been passed on to airline officials.
The issuing of the warrant was based on an application by John Kawi, the
senior counsel assisting the Inquiry.
Chairman of the Defence Board of Inquiry Justice Gibbs Salika said that
as the first summons upon which Mr Punangi had already appeared twice
was “still valid”, his (Mr Punangi’s) failure to appear on Monday was a
violation of Sect 52 (3) of the Defence Act. It carries a penalty of K40
fine.
This whole issue stems from Mr Punangi’s refusal since last week to sign
for the release of funds for the general operations of the inquiry for
this month.
Part of the funding was also to enable the inquiry personnel to travel
to the Solomon Islands.
It is understood Mr Punangi had made an appointment to meet with the
inquiry board at 2pm on Monday but did not turn up.
Department of Defence senior accountant David Porykali appeared instead
yesterday, telling the inquiry he needed time to process the claims
because the documents were only brought to him on Thursday, and the
board was travelling on Monday.
Mr Porykali said while he had approved and processed claims below
K50,000, any amount above that needed the authority of the Secretary.
He said when the Defence Secretary found out the details, he halted all
payment and told him that as the board of inquiry was not allowed to
travel to Solomon Islands, he would not authorise any claims for
processing.
“That advice was a wilful obstruction to the board of inquiry to carry
out its duties,” an angry Mr Kawi said, saying lawyers who were working
for the inquiry were not doing their jobs “for chicken feed”.
 
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