23 Dec 2014

Vanuatu politicians spar over mutiny case

4:15 pm on 23 December 2014

Vanuatu's opposition leader, Moana Carcasses, has filed a criminal complaint against the prime minister, Joe Natuman, claiming he is interfering in the police mutiny case.

The mutiny case centres on charges and counter charges against factions within the force involving two former police commissioners who both have groups of supporters among the serving officers.

The Daily Post newspaper says Mr Carcasses' complaint accuses the Prime Minister of interfering with the police mutiny case after Mr Natuman approached the police to try to end it.

Other calls of interference by Mr Natuman have been made some of those involved in the mutiny case.

But the prime minister's office says it had written to the police, asking it to drop investigations into the case, in good faith, in an attempt to re-unify the force.

It says this letter was sent before the case went to court.