Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Police chief in dangerous waters, says PNG MP

08:47 am on 26 April 2016

Papua New Guinea's police commissioner is risking trouble by continuing to defy a court order, according to an opposition MP.

Papua New Guinea MP Sam Basil. Photo: Supplied

The commissioner, Gary Baki, last week suspended leaders of PNG's anti-fraud directorate for insubordination and other alleged breaches.

This came after the anti-fraud officers made high profile arrests while probing the prime minister Peter O'Neill's role in alleged illegal state payments to a law firm.

The head of the directorate, Matthew Damaru, challenged Mr Baki's move in court which subsequently ordered a stay on the suspension.

However the commissioner has blockaded the directorate's office, preventing them from operating.

The Bulolo MP Sam Basil claimed Mr Baki has been wrongly advised: "I see that Baki will be in a lot of trouble. He has gone against the orders of the court. If the police commissioner doesn't respect the court orders, who else can?"

"So it has to be brought back to the courts to be corrected. I really strongly think that the police commissioner is in a lot of trouble right now," said Mr Basil.

Mr Damaru said his officers had been prevented from accessing his office by members of the notorious police mobile squad loyal to Commissioner Baki.

"And we've been locked outside, we can't do anything. All the files and everything are all locked up. We are just hanging around outside the office and out on the street, basically doing nothing," Mr Damaru said.

"We are told to provide reports and everything, but we can't while the office is locked."