Officers advised to return vehicles

FINANCE Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan has advised officers still in possession of Apec (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit vehicles to immediately return them or face being arrested by police.
Ngangan issued a 14-day ultimatum to short-term employees, contractors, service providers, members of the Joint Security Task Force, police fraud squad and individuals still in possession of Apec vehicles.
He did not say how many Apec vehicles are missing.
“All vehicles acquired by the state and those donated by international partners, NGOs (non-government organisation) and corporate entities for the hosting of Apec remain the property of the state,” Ngangan said in a statement.
“The Department of Finance and the National Procurement Commission are rolling into their final stages of disposing Apec vehicles.
“All persons currently in custody of Apec vehicles are advised to return them to the Department of Finance and be grounded at the CT4 wharf (in Port Moresby).
“It is deemed illegal and criminal for (people to still be in) possession of the vehicles when the Apec event has already ended.”
A similar plea was made by Finance and Rural Development Minister Charles Abel on Nov 1.
Abel said the exercise was executed in accordance with the financial management processes as stipulated under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the National Procurement Act.
He said to date disposals had taken place through public tenders as well as allocation and distribution.
Abel said the department undertook the disposal exercise pursuant to the list provide by the Apec Coordinating Authority as well as extracts from Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd and motor car dealers and donor partners.
The Government had bought 326 vehicles.