19 Oct 2006

PNG opens second inquiry into Moti escape

5:17 pm on 19 October 2006

A second Papua New Guinea inquiry been launched into the escape of suspended Solomon Islands attorney general from PNG to Solomon Islands.

Mr Moti left the country last week on a secret PNG military aircraft flight.

The prime minister's office is already conducting an inquiry but the Ombudsman's Commission says it wants to consider legal issues, and matters of national security, leadership integrity and governance surrounding the flight.

The Post Courier newspaper reports the ombudsmen Peter Masi and John Nero as saying the public is clearly raising doubts about the integrity of the country's leadership and the state of the national security infrastructure.

Our correspondent in Port Moresby, Alex Rheeney, says they will be questioning people high in the government.

"The indications we are getting are that there was definitely some sort of government sanction behind the move. One of the people the Ombudsman Commission would most likely talk to is Joe Aisaigo, the chairman of the National Security Advisory Committee."

Alex Rheeney in Port Moresby.