PSC, police not to be influenced
By MOHAMMAD BASHIR
THE Public Services Commission (PSC) and police have both said they would not be influenced by anyone regardless of his or her position or status.
In separate telephone interviews last week, PSC chairman Rigo Lua and Police Commissioner Gari Baki said their respective organisations would continue to work within the parameters of their responsibility and would not bow down to any pressure or influence.
Mr Baki said this while indicating receipt of a letter by NCD Governor Powes Parkop, in relation to a police investigation against acting city manager Leslie Alu and other NCDC officials regarding the alleged misappropriation of K300,000 intended for a school.
Mr Lua said the PSC would strictly comply with its own system and would not be dictated or influenced by outside elements apart from conditions and criteria as set out under the merit-based appointment process.
“I am not aware of the letter but if there is an investigation, we will not be influenced by anyone regardless of who he is,” Mr Baki said from Honiara.
Their statements follow a letter by Mr Parkop who wanted investigations against Mr Alu dropped as it was likely to jeopardise his chances of being considered for the city manager’s position.
While acknowledging that he wrote the letter on March 5, Mr Parkop said he was prompted to write it as he had not received any acknowledgement from the police on Mr Alu’s initial referral and did not know the status of the investigation.
Mr Parkop told The National that he was not in favour of any candidate for the position.
On March 5 Mr Parkop wrote to Mr Baki, asking him to withdraw any investigation against Mr Alu, particularly a K300,000 fraud case.
This money was earmarked for a building at Morata Primary School last year.
The letter made a request to discontinue any investigation against Mr Alu and confirm this in writing to Mr Parkop.
“...As the rumours have it, his purported investigation is affecting his application before the PSC for the position of city manager,” the letter said.
Mr Parkop denied that he was attempting to influence the decision of PSC in its assessment of candidates or was he lobbying for Mr Alu to get the job.
“The letter only serves as my opinion about the implication of my referral. If the police were able to advice me that their investigation implicates Mr Alu, I would not have written that letter,” he said.
“To date I have had no such advice. I have no intention to pervert the cause of justice,” Mr Parkop said in his letter, adding that the police are free to investigate Mr Alu or anyone for that matter if there is any implication.
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