Police boss defends appointments

The Commissioner of Police has defended the appointment of two naturalised citizens within the Royal PNG Constabulary.

Commissioner Gari Baki said the social media post questioning their employment was not only malicious but derogatory.

Naturalised citizen of Chinese descent, Qi Ming Aixinjueluo, was promoted to Deputy Director Crimes at the rank of Superintendent on October 2nd, 2018.

His counterpart, Superintendent Dennis Corcoran, who is of Australian descent, is attached with the Joint Security Task Force, attending to all APEC logistical matters.

A Facebook user alleged that Supt Ming has links to the Chinese mafia and both men do not possess the necessary experience nor skills to lead the criminal investigation and transport department respectively.

In response, Police Commissioner Baki said Ming and Corcoran were employed to occupy two very strategic positions within the Royal PNG Constabulary, purely on merit.

Baki said Ming, who was born and raised in Kundiawa, Simbu Province, first joined the Constabulary as a reservist in 1986.

He was extensively used to detect and prosecute a series of transnational crimes cases involving suspected Asian Triads operating in the country.

“He’s an experienced police officer. He was in the department since 2007,” stated Baki.

Corcoran has deep roots in PNG as his father was a former Chief Inspector in the 50s and 60s in the then Papua and New Guinea Constabulary, and later became the first PNG Fire Chief.

“He’s got business experience, he’s an administrator and he will control the transport department in the way I want it.

“His father was a police officer and he was the one that started the Fire Brigade in Papua New Guinea. Eventually the son decided to stay on.”

Baki said there is no connection between him and Corcoran, even though the latter is a businessman in his home province in West New Britain.

“He became a businessman before deciding to work with the Constabulary because of his love and passion for his country. He speaks fluent pidgin and is very well accustomed to the country’s culture and traditional practices.

“Since teaming up with the APEC JSTF, Supt Corcoran has proved himself to be a very valuable asset to the Constabulary, connecting the JSTF with the various echelons of relevant state agencies, arranging troop movements, transportation, accommodation and all other necessary requirements for the JSTF and the Constabulary.”

(Police Commissioner Gari Baki)

Author: 
Carmella Gware