Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG police commissioner sets up inquiry into fraud squad

09:17 am on 20 April 2016

Papua New Guinea's fraud squad is to be investigated in the latest development in a major fraud case implicating the country's prime minister.

PNG's police commissioner said he is establishing an internal inquiry into the role and actions of the squad.

This comes days after Gary Baki suspended leading members of the squad who are advancing a case which implicates the prime minister Peter O'Neill.

The suspension has since been stayed by the court but a division emerged within PNG's police force over the matter.

PNG Police Commissioner, Gary Baki. Photo: EMTV

Among the breaches which the Commissioner levelled at the fraud squad head Matthew Damaru and several of his team, were allegations of insubordination and bribery.

Now Mr Baki has commissioned an inquiry to ascertain whether fraud squad officers were impartial and objective in discharge of their duties.

The inquiry is also to look at whether the fraud squad was operating in accordance with proper police practices.

The inquiry is to be headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Operations, David Manning, and is expected to take four weeks to complete.