Top cop: Wewak mob’s actions criminal

By JUNIOR UKAHA
DEPUTY Police Commissioner Simon Kauba has described as criminal the actions of a Wewak mob who forced police investigators to return on an Air Nuigini flight to Port Moresby.
He said the investigators were state agents and had travelled to Wewak to investigate “se­rious allegations of fraud and corruption”.
They were ordered by the mob on arrival at the airport last Wednesday to return on the same plane to Port Moresby.
“The people and police in Wewak have no right to stop them (investigators),” Kauba said.
“Any interference with their duty is criminal and will be dealt with.”
Kauba claimed that the majority of the people in Wewak welcomed the move by the government to send the team to investigate corrupt leaders.
He said only a few “cronies and associates” of the leaders were trying to stop the investigation.
Kauba vowed to re-send investigators to the province.
The team who were forced to return consisted of officers from the police fraud squad and Task Force Sweep.
Meanwhile, the East Sepik provincial authorities say they will not allow any government investigation team into the province until the question of the legitimacy of the government is decided by the court.
Provincial assembly law and order committee chairman Timothy Wani said the people had shown their opposition to any investigations.
After last Wednesday’s drama at the airport, all Air Niugini flights into Wewak are being monitored by East Sepik citizens.
They do not want any more investigators sent there.
Provincial police are keeping a close watch on the situation.
The East Sepik provincial government plans to seek a stay order from the court to prevent any government investigation until the Supreme Court rules on the legitimacy of the government.
The province is also waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on whether Fred Yakasa, appointed by Sir Michael Somare, or Tom Kulunga, appointed by incumbent Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is the legitimate police commissioner.
“Until the court rules on who is the legitimate police commissioner, we will not allow any police from Port Moresby, Mt Hagen or anywhere else to come here,” Wani said.