Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has declared the Julian Moti saga a "dead issue".
Attempts by the Defence Force board of inquiry to get the Grand Chief to appear voluntarily to give evidence have been declined by Sir Michael.
Sir Michael has written back to the board, advising that he will not avail himself as he is not a soldier or a Department of Defence employee.
In an emotionally charged press conference at Morauta Haus, the Prime Minister denied giving orders for Moti to be flown to the Solomon Islands on October 10 last year and lashed out at the media for continuing to run reports on the issue.
