Court orders police chief and officer to settle differences

THE National Court has advised Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga and one of his junior officers to resolve their differences.
Kulunga had instructed the removal of East Sepik provincial police commander Vincent Pokas.
But on March 6, Pokas successfully obtained a restraining court order barring Kulunga from removing him and appointing a new commander until the matter of the legitimacy of the government was resolved by the court.
But the police hierarchy in Konedobu went ahead and appointed Chief Supt Joe Poma to replace Pokas as provincial police commander.
The police hierarchy said the matter of appointing and transferring commanders was the prerogative of the commissioner and an internal police matter that did not need to be contested in court.
Justice Ambeng Kandakasi last Thursday ordered that the interim order obtained by Pokas on Kulunga be lifted.
Kandakasi said the parties involved in the case should resolve the matter internally.
Kandakasi ordered that the matter be returned to court on April 27.
Pokas had argued at the time that it was too close to the start of the election to appoint a new police commander in East Sepik.
He said police headquarters should wait for the Supreme Court ruling on the legitimacy of government before moving him.
Pokas’ appointment and posting to East Sepik was decided by the former police administration.
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