Former senior civil servant Kalinoe dies in hospital

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THE former secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, pictured, was pronounced dead on arrival at Madang’s Modilon Hospital on Wednesday.
He had dinner and had gone to his hotel room that evening and soon after was seen outside kneeling and coughing, Madang police commander Chief Inspector Ben Neneo said.
He was rushed to hospital and was pronounced dead soon after, he said.
Neneo said Dr Kalinoe arrived in Madang on Wednesday and was booked at the Madang Resort Hotel.
He said Kalinoe was to chair the Mamose regional land summit there.
He said at about 11pm Kalinoe experienced throat irritation and began coughing.
“Dr Kalinoe was seen outside his hotel room in a kneeling position and was holding on to a rock in the flower bed,” Neneo said.
He said Kalinoe had developed severe coughing and had complications in breathing.
Neneo said security guards who were around at that time saw what had happened so they raised the alarm and the hotel staff rushed him to Modilon hospital.
He said police would investigate the death and if relatives wanted they would conduct a post-mortem. Kalinoe’s few relatives from Avatip village in East Sepik gathered yesterday.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General Secretary Dr Eric Kwa said Kalinoe’s death was a big loss to the judicial fraternity and the nation. “Kalinoe was secretary for the department for more than 10 years,” he said. “We are now hiring a chopper to bring the body down (to Port Moresby). The Prime Minister’s Department is also helping with arrangements.”