Gari Baki

Acting Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, said within the last 13 years, the RPNGC has had 13 police commissioners – six permanent appointments and seven acting appointments.

“If it continues like this, this Constabulary will never build a house,” Baki said in yesterday’s press briefing.

The July 7^th briefing followed a directive from Police Minister, Bryan Kramer, for Baki to stop work, while Deputy Police Commissioners Jim Andrews and Raphael Huafolo were replaced after their contracts expired on July 4^th.

Three Chief Superintendents were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioners, two to Chief Superintendents, one to Superintendent and one to Inspector. They include:

“I appeal to all leaders to respect the neutrality of Police and not to engage members of the Police Force for their political agenda,” Commissioner Baki said.

He also warned members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary not to allow themselves to be engaged by any of the two groups of national leaders during the period leading up to the Vote of No Confidence.

“Our political leaders must be allowed to freely and without any undue influence exercise their constitutional duties. Leaders should not be hijacked or forced in any situation.

The other five suspects will be charged with one count of accessory after the fact for each of the 22 charges and one count of harbouring, for a total of 23 charges each.

The 11 suspects were transferred to Port Moresby from Alotau on Wednesday, February 20^th, and are now in police custody. The youngest among the group is 19 years old while the oldest is a 48-year-old man.

“As I have mentioned in previous statements, I welcome the audit of funds allocated to and expended by the JSTF,” Commissioner Baki said.

He stated that as far as he was concerned, all allowances for members of the security forces engaged for APEC 2018 security operations have been paid.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki was in Buka on Friday, January 25^th, to open and hand over the keys to the newly built police staff houses at the Hutjena Police Barracks.

Commissioner Baki said the buildings reflect the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s determination in building a stronger Police Service in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He said such moves will move the Constabulary forward in the coming years.

He says an investigation will soon commence to find out the cause of the unrest and individuals who instigated it, though members of the JSTF said they were frustrated over the non-payment of APEC allowance.

The Commissioner said 10 were sent on Monday to assist local police prevent opportunists from taking advantage of the locals’ frustration.

Commissioner Baki also confirmed that the officer driving the vehicle, was a member of the Lae Police who travelled in two patrol boats in to Alotau for a pit stop, before heading out to Port Moresby.

He said while there, local police asked for assistance after reports came that a hard-core criminal, who escaped jail in Port Moresby, was in town.

During the official opening of the RPNGC Water Police Headquarters at Konedobu in Port Moresby last Friday, Baki appreciated the governments of Australia and New Zealand for assisting the RPNGC in some of the work that have been taking place.

He acknowledged them particularly for the provision of police advisors to help the RPNGC deliver the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018.

Commissioner of Police, Gari Baki, said to date, no report of this alleged plot was reported to police but Kramer, like every other national leader, can be accorded police protection if the allegations are proven to be credible.

His statement follows a social media post by Kramer where he said: “I was contacted by former Chairman of Anti-corruption Task Sweep Sam Koim to inform me he had received reliable intelligence that individuals with political connections were planning to have me assassinated.