30 Sep 2013

New Solomons police commissioner forced to crash: civil society groups

4:05 pm on 30 September 2013

Civil society groups in Solomon Islands claim the new police commissioner was forced to crash his car shortly after his appointment just over a week ago.

The police say an investigation is being conducted into what they describe as a motor collision involving a senior officer on his way home alone in the early hours Saturday week ago but they are not naming Peter Aoraunisaka.

It has been reported that Mr Aoraunisaka was out celebrating his appointment before the crash, in which witnesses say he cheated death.

But the interim chairperson of the Joint Civil Society Group, Barnabas Henson, says the new commissioner was not seen drinking alcohol that evening.

"According to some eye witness accounts of this accident, Aoranisaka was actually tailed by two cars, who sort of, you know, caused him to swerve off the road and smash into a concrete flower pot that was in the nmiddle of the road."

Barnabas Henson says elements of government are trying to discredit Peter Aoraniska so it can replace him.