Police clear Paita over discharging of firearm

The National National

By GEORGINA KOREI
POLICE have cleared Finschhafen MP Rainbo Paita of any criminal offence involving the discharging of a high-powered gun last year.
However, the same police investigation team found sufficient evidence to lay both administrative and criminal charges against his close protection officer Sergeant John Bain.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the action by Paita was unfortunate yet an avoidable incident where poor judgment had caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the police force and the dedicated members of the force. Manning said there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against Paita.
With Paita cleared, Prime Minister James Marape said: “He (Paita) resumes his place in Cabinet as our country’s planning minister.”
Investigations started following a public outcry over the video that went viral on social media last year of him discharging a firearm.
“The video that went viral, showed Paita discharging a number of shots from a high-powered rifle,” Manning said.
The police investigation team met last month to;

  • ASCERTAIN the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident;
  • ESTABLISH whether any PNG laws, including the Firearms Act 1978, were breached by Paita; and,
  • WHETHER Paita, by his action, had endangered the lives of
    others.

Police have established from their investigations that the target was in a remote, isolated and private property at Bautama in Central.
“The investigators have established that no PNG laws, including the PNG Firearms Act 1978, were breached in any way by Paita,” he said.