Kua under probe

 ATTORNEY-General and Jus­tice Minister Kerenga Kua is alleged to have assaulted an expatriate company manager and threatened him with deportation in October last year.

According to police witness statements obtained by The National, Kua is alleged to have assaulted Colin Hunter in Port Moresby on Oct 2. 

Police have yet to arrest and charge Kua.

National Capital District Met Supt Andy Bawa said yesterday he was aware of the incident and had assigned an officer to the case.

“I am aware of the complaint against the minister and will follow up on the progress of this case,” he said.

Hunter, who is employed as electrical manager with Aisi-Bishman Contractors, confirmed the incident and said he would pursue the matter with police.

He said despite threats of deportation by Kua, he would press charges against him and ensure the case proceeded to the court.

In his witness statement, which was supported by security guard Samson Kokong, Hunter said the incident occurred at 7pm at a property owned by Kua in Section 60, Lot 20 on Gabaka Street, Gordon.

Hunter said he received a call from one of his security guards looking after Kua’s property who claimed that he had been assaulted by the owner. 

He was about to investigate when Kua called him to go there himself.

Hunter said when he arrived with two of his workers, he saw Kua with 12 security guards waiting inside.

“I was trying to greet him when he started shouting that I had wrecked his property and he punched me in the face,” Hunter said in his statement to police.

“I attempted to reason with him and explain my side of the issue while he continued to punch me in between yelling accusations that I was a con man and had cheated him.”

Hunter said Kua had blamed him for damaging the doors and walls of the workshop at his premises and demanded immediate repairs.

“I replied that I could not do that as the walls and doors belonged to us and I had explained that a number of times over the past 11 months,” he said.

Hunter said Kua and one of his security guards then proceeded to attack him but he managed to run out of the gate and drive off to the Boroko police station to report the matter.

Kua could not be contacted for a comment. It is understood that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is aware of the matter.