Pok denies Opposition’s nepotism claims

Defence Minister Dr Fabien Pok yesterday brushed aside Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil’s comments on nepotism in the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF).
Pok denied Basil’s statement that soldiers were deployed to guard Prime Minister Peter O’Neill from being arrested by detectives from the National Fraud and Anti Corruption Directorate.
Pok said no soldiers had been assigned to escort O’Neill.
He said only police officers from the National Security Unit were assigned to escort O’Neill.
“Also PNGDF Commander Gilbert Toropo was appointed about three years ago and you (Basil) did not raise that concern that time,” Pok said.
“He is also a Papua New Guinean and can be appointed by  cabinet and the national executive council if he seems to be a fit and proper officer.”
He called on Basil to refer Toropo to the Ombudsman Commission to be tried under the leadership code if there was evidence of Toropo misusing K1.5 million belonging to the commercial arm of the PNGDF.
The minister urged Basil not to raise misleading questions in  Parliament to discredit professional government officers.