East New Britain police commander clarifies use of vehicle

By ROSELYN ELLISON
EAST New Britain police commander Snr Insp Joseph Tabali has clarified statements made by the Pomio MP Elias Kapavore in relation to the use of a donated vehicle.
Tabali was responding to a story published in this paper on March 4.
Kapavore had called on Police Commissioner David Manning to investigate allegations against ENB police commander Sr Insp David Tabali of the misuse, abuse and damage of property.
Kapavore called for an investigation into the use of the South Coast Highway Patrol vehicle purchased by the Pomio development authority (DDA) at a cost of K160,000.
Tabali told The National that what Kapavore claimed was misleading.
Tabali said he had not used the donated vehicle as he had his own vehicle.
“I never misused or damage that vehicle because I have my own vehicle which I use,” Tabali said.
“I was in Port Moresby for the PPCs meeting when this incident occurred,” Tabali said.
He explained that the vehicle was assigned to a police officer at Mungo but due to the continuous abuse of the vehicle he had withdrawn it and it was locked away in the transport pool at the police logistic office in Kokopo.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Divisional Commander for New Guinea Islands (NGI) Anton Billie confirmed that he asked to use the vehicle because his own vehicle was in the workshop.
ACP Billie explained that, the vehicle was released to him by the officer in charge of the logistic and transport pool.
Billie said he asked to use the vehicle because he wanted to settle his children in school in Kimbe, West New Britain and that was why he took the vehicle to Kimbe.
Billie said the vehicle got stuck at Pandi River on return to Kokopo.
“With assistance from the Hargy Oil Palm, the tow truck pulled the vehicle out and a mechanic drained all the water out from the vehicle and later put new oil,” Billie said.
He said they drove back to Kokopo and he brought the vehicle to the Ela Motors workshop to be checked.
Billie said he paid for the repairs.
He said Kapavore had the right to raise concerns.