PNG Police Commissioner sacked

10:23 am on 8 May 2015

Papua New Guinea's national executive council has sacked the Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki and replaced him with Gary Baki.

The Police Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, Geoffrey Vaki.

The Police Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, Geoffrey Vaki. Photo: Dominic Kakas

Mr Baki's reinstatement is the third change of PNG police chief in four years.

The prime minister Peter O'Neill, in making the appointment, said the government feels a change in command is needed to restore confidence, discipline and morale of the police force.

He added Mr Baki, who is a former Police Commissioner, is the most suited, experienced and disciplined to take on this role.

Mr Vaki's appointment by the Peter O'Neill-led government almost a year ago came after the sacking of Tom Kulunga following moves by elements of the police force to serve an arrest warrant on the prime minister in relation to a major fraud case.

Mr Kulunga had become Commissioner in 2011 when the former Somare government sacked Gary Baki from the position.

Mr Vaki has been embroiled in a contempt of court case since last year when he allegedly conspired to prevent the arrest warrant from being served against Mr O'Neill in June.

He had also been suspended as a senior policeman on at least two occasions, under Commissioners Kulunga and Baki.

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