Yakasa challenges posting to B’ville

By SAMUEL RAITANO
ASSISTANT police commissioner (Bougainville) Fred Yakasa wants to challenge the National Executive Council’s decision to revoke his appointment as acting deputy police commissioner operations and transfer him to Bougainville.
Yakasa’s lawyer yesterday argued that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his cabinet, including Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga, gave no reason for Yakasa’s transfer and demotion from the rank of chief superintendent to the post in Bougainville, which he dubbed as being of an “unattached officer”.
Yakasa’s lawyer yesterday sought to have the Waigani National Court grant him leave for a judicial review of the decision by cabinet and to stay the  transfer to Bougainville.
However, the court told Yakasa to show in court the process
surrounding the revocation of such appointments under the Police Act.
Justice George Manuhu told Yakasa’s lawyer that the process of removal of the deputy commissioner with the reasons for a revocation would be clearly set out in the Police Act.
Manuhu said it should shed light on whether the relevant provisions applied to someone in an “acting” role as deputy commissioner. 
“It appears to me that you are unable to ascertain the procedure, it would undermine your basis in having an arguable case … we
need to see what the law says.
“I am certain there is a procedure for the removal of a deputy commissioner,” Manuhu said.