Baki asked to lift closure of fraud office

Police Commissioner Gari Baki was asked by the National Court this morning to reopen the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

Baki appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika who gave him the discretion to lift his earlier directions to close the fraud office.

Sir Gibbs told Baki that the office must remain open so the public can make reports and officers can perform their constitutional functions.

"I am asking you to reopen the office so work can progress. The office does not belong to you or me or anyone else," Sir Gibbs told Commissioner Baki in a packed courtroom.

He said if Baki does not lift the closure on the office, he will be called back to court and issue orders to do so.

Baki was summoned yesterday to appear this morning in court and explain the consequences of his actions in closing the office after the trial for Bogia MP John Hickey had to be put off this week.

The matter was supposed to be presided over by Sir Gibbs at the Madang National Court however, arresting officer from the fraud office Detective Senior Constable Luke Kupa, through an affidavit, informed the court on Monday he was unable to organise witnesses to be flown over to Madang.

Twenty-six state witnesses are to be called by the state for the trial in Madang. Six of those witnesses are in Port Moresby, two are supposed to be flown in from Australia while the remaining are based in Madang.

Commissioner Baki told the court he issued directions for the closure of the fraud office as there was no accountability from the officers there.

He said the arresting officer was told to make a note to the his office for access to be given for files however, that was not done by detective Kupa.

"Had he done so I wouldn't have to stand in court this morning," Baki told the court.

A press conference will be called by the Commissioner before lunch today.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton