PAC stands by inquiry

The National National
  • By TREVOR WAHUNE
    PUBLIC Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Sir John Pundari says the committee will defend a case filed against it by the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd seeking court orders to permanently stop the committee from inquiring into KPHL’s operations.
    Sir John was speaking at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday after a case filed by way of originating summons by KPHL seeking court orders to permanently restrain PAC’s inquiry into its operations was served to PAC members on Wednesday.
    The application was filed under the instructions of KPHL managing director Wapu Sonk.
    KPHL’s application is also seeking court declarations that:
  • KPHL is not subject to the oversight of the PAC;
  •  the chairman and the PAC committee members lack the legal standing, in the PAC and that it is not properly constituted; and,
  •  An NEC decision subjecting KPHL to the scrutiny of PAC is invalid, and of no effect.
    Sir John in the presence of PAC members, deputy chairman Gary Juffa, Bogia MP Robert Naguri, North Fly MP James Donald, Jiwaka Governor William Tongamp, and Angoram MP Salio Waipo, said the committee welcomed the proceedings.
    “However, the committee is very mindful that it will be another expensive exercise costing state money in legal bills to law firms that will ultimately end up being the biggest winners,” he said.
    “Nevertheless the committee has resolved to defend this action.”
    Sir John said the committee as a whole failed to understand why KPHL would go to that extent to deny the country’s right to know where the proceeds of the PNG LNG project had gone after more than 500 shipments made since the project’s first shipment in 2014.
    “We cannot hide behind annual financial statements.
    “We cannot just rely on annual general meetings of KPHL, where they appear to present a K100 million cheque and declare that K5 billion was remitted to the independent state of PNG,” he said.
    “We need to know the details of where the revenues generated by PNG LNG project have been expanded to.”

3 comments

  • KHPL is not Sonk’s private entity. We are very well aware that Peter ONeill is the owner if I am not wrong. The citizens of PNG have every right to know. PAC we are with you. Do not leave any stones behind. Have them all turned.

  • If Wapu Sonk is saying KPHL is a private business and is not subjected to PAC inquiry can he please tell us if he is a share holder and how many shares he has in the company. If I understand correctly he was only appointed to the position of MD and as such he is ONLY an employee. We the citizens of this great nation are the share holders and very right to how if the company has made any profit and our monies have been spent. Get real Mr Sonk you don’t own KPHL.

  • Is it KHPL a Government or private entity and is Wapu Sonk the owner of KHPL or employee? Who is behind this KHPL court order to permanently stop the committee from inquiring into KHPL Operation? We are the rightful citizen of this PNG Country to know what is going on with the operation of LNG money from the 500 shipment since 2014 – 2019.

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