Court requests documents

The National Court has ordered the National Executive Council (NEC) to produce documents for appointing PNG Defence Force Colonel Otto Pandum as the new National Intelligence Organisation (NIO) director general.
Justice Collin Makali also ordered the Ministerial Executive Appointment Committee (MEAC), Public Service Minister (former) Elias Kapavore, Department of Personnel Management acting secretary Taies Sansan and NEC secretary Grace So-on to provide the NEC decision No. 225/18 for Col Pandum’s appointment as the new head of NIO.
Makali also ordered these defendants to produce the NEC decision No. 225/18 during the pretrial hearing when the National Court Registrar sets the date.
Then MEAC chairman Kapavore had recommended to the NEC on July 25, 2018 to appoint Pandum after the MEAC members consisting of (then) deputy prime minister Charles Abel, (then) national planning minister Richard Maru, (then) Bougainville Affairs minister William Samb, (then and current) Justice and Attorney General minister Davis Steven ruled in favour of Pandum’s application.
Pandum had sought judicial review after he claimed that Sansan was allegedly ignoring NEC decision no. 225/18 on his appointment.
Instead Sansan advertised in The National dated Aug 8, 2019 calling for new applicants for the director general’s position while Pandum’s judicial review was still before the court.
Earlier, Kapavore, when he was the public service minister and MEAC chairman, confirmed to this paper in the The National issue on Aug 5, 2018 that PNGDF intelligence unit director Col Pandum was the NIO’s new director general.
“Col Pandum has been appointed by the (then) NEC with (then and current) opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch’s support and has now put to rest many questions regarding this position,” Kapavore said.
Pandum was appointed to replace Benjamin Umba.