Deputy Chief of PNG Defence Force, Commodore Philip Polewara, on Wednesday August 9, 2023 presented the PNGDF Investigation Report on the Kupiano Training Incident, to the General Board of Inquiry.
The Board – convened by the authority of the Minister for Defence – summoned Cdre Polewara following its first sitting on Tuesday August 08, 2023, at APEC Haus, Port Moresby.
While handing over the report, Cdre Polewara said the PNGDF investigation, from which the report is furnished, was conducted independently, without interference from the force’s higher command.
It is the initial PNGDF report into the training mishap that occurred on July 4th, 2023, in Kupiano, claiming the lives of two members and injuring another, along with a civilian. The report will serve as a key document for the Board to conduct their investigations.
The Inquiry is a fact-finding mission. The Board will inquire into and scrutinize all areas of Defence administration, operations and training, and provide appropriate recommendations to the Defence hierarchy for improvement of administration, process and procedures. This will ensure accidents such as the one in Kupiano, do not reoccur during PNGDF trainings.
Procedure of the Inquiry is as directed by the Chairman. The Board is not bound to observe strict legal procedures or rules of evidence but may admit and consider information as is available and relevant to the Inquiry. In interest of fairness, the Board may order that all or any evidence given before it, be given in private.
Session was adjourned on Wednesday afternoon and will resume on Friday August 11, 2023, at 10am, giving Board members Thursday August 10, 2023, to read through the report.