5 Oct 2012

Vanuatu officer arrested in over alleged police mutiny plot

3:21 pm on 5 October 2012

Vanuatu police have arrested a Senior Inspector, Ron Tamtam, who was wanted since last weekend.

Senior Inspector Tamtam is among a group of top officers facing a charge of inciting mutiny against the Police Commissioner, Joshua Bong.

He was to be arrested last weekend with other top officers but managed to hide until this morning.

The senior officer still on the run is the Commander of Maritime Wing, John Taleo.

Mr Bong has warned the public not to obstruct police in carrying out their duty.

This comes after two senior members of the Police Service Commission were dismissed by the President this week amid a prolonged rift over who should lead the police.

The magistrate court has issued a search warrant of media premises to get footage and transcript of the interview by the minister of internal affairs, Georges Wells, regarding the suspension and forced leave of the Commissioner Bong.