By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, has stood firm following the suspension of two top cops, Chief Superintendent Mathew Damaru, and Chief Inspector Timothy Gitua, saying the decision to suspend the two was done with no political influence.
Baki said the suspensions are independent, purely administrative in nature, and have nothing to do with the current turn of events undertaken by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Division.
Damaru and Gitua were suspended with the Officer in Charge of Fraud, Inspector Joel Simatab, along with four other members of the fraud directorate.
Commissioner Baki has called on the public not to take his action out of context. He said the only issue that will emerge as a result of the suspension is the timeframe of his administrative action.
Despite the suspension, Damaru and Gitua will attend to cases that they currently have before the court.
Baki maintained that his action is to take complete command and control of his officers.
The suspension of Damaru and his officers came after the arrest of Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, lawyer Tiffany Twivey, and Attorney General and Justice Minister, Ano Pala, consecutively last week.
Commissioner Baki claimed he never received any brief of the investigations and the arrest of the high profile figures, until after the media had reported about it.
Baki said Damaru and his team continued to defy his directions, and were acting outside of police procedures.
The Senior Legal Officer and Commissioner’s Review Officer, Chief Superintendent Hodges Ette, was appointed as the Acting Director of Fraud (DFACD). His Acting Deputy is Chief Inspector Jacob Ivaroa.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fYYTJfjRHCs%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
