Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister dies following a tragic car accident

Papua New Guinea woke up to a distressing and shocking news about the death of its Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament representing the people of Wau-Bulolo Samuel Basil on Thursday morning, May 12, 2022.

Police Commissioner David Manning issued a statement late Wednesday evening that Basil and his close protection office Neil Maino succumbed to injuries sustained during the car accident along the Lae to Bulolo highway.

Another police officer and a media personnel were seriously injured and were being treated.

 Manning said another vehicle was involved in the accident and police would question the driver of the vehicle.

Late Basil's dead body was brought to Port Moresby by a Manolos Aviation helicopter on Sunday arriving at the evening and a state funeral will be afforded to late Basil.

The police department will honour CPO Maino in a special funeral as well.

A police officer who survived the accident told Post Courier in an exclusive interview.

"As we were driving it was a small corner,  so as we were about to turn the corner, we could see the lights of the oncoming vehicle coming from up there," Sgt Fred Setu said.

Samuel Basil (late)

He said as they were negotiating the corner with late Basil at the steering wheel "this car from nowhere just drove straight" and rammed them from the drivers side where Basil was driving.

"In a few seconds as I saw the car approaching us I screamed at the leader (Basil) but it was too late, the car hit us already and after  a few seconds time mi tanim long ol boys long backside, I could see them but olgeta ol sleep long backsait, we were all in a state of shock in few seconds."

Setu was sitting offside Basil in front and was saved by the dashboard and security wires in front of the windscreen though his head impacted the windscreen.

He rushed to save Basil who was unconscious but breathing and lying down on his seat.

He turned to late CPO Maino and he got the response: "Mi orait savim lida pastaim."

Both Basil and Maino passed on 30 minutes apart at the Bulolo clinic.

 

Michael Kandiu "the real estate businessman" denies offering money to election official

A candidate contesting the National Capital District governor's seat in 2022 is aggrieved The National Newspaper mentioned him as the one who offered bribe money amounting to over K180,000 to one Terence Hetinu.

The parts of the report which mentioned aggrieved Michael Kandiu's name were: "Hetinu, 51, from Kainantu’s Biteve village in Eastern Highlands, corruptly received K184,300 from Michael Kandiu to influence the outcome of the election for the NCD seat in 2017 general election."

"“The monies were received pursuant to a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between Kandiu, Hetinu and coordinator for Moresby North-East electorate Williue Winstand Ipuia, under which an unspecified sum of monies was made available to Hetinu and Ipuia for distribution amongst themselves, their families and for distribution ensuring the election of Kandiu.”

"Judge Berrigan added that upon Kandiu’s election, Hetinu was to be awarded all security contracts with the NCD Commission for a period of at least five years, subject to renewal."

Hetinu , the 2017 Election Manager for NCD was sentenced to seven years in prison with light labour  on Friday April 30, 2022 for having in possession K184,300.

He was jailed for official corruption.

Police investigations then concluded the money was to bribe election officials and Hetinu was caught on June 27, 2017 at a polling station at Six Mile in Port Moresby.

Michael Kandiu who was the runner up to Powes Parkop in the last two elections who was named in the newspaper report was disappointed that his reputation has now been tarnished.

 He said he was not charged by police after investigations because of the said memorandum of agreement.

Michael Kandiu at the press conference today

The sentencing of Hetinu and the report published appeared at the eve of another national general election and Kandiu, the real estate businessman is very concerned.

Calling a media conference he said the court decision did not implicate him in any way or form to have offered the money.

"What the judgment indicated was that the election manager received the money to secure my elections," Kandiu said.

He said he was rather a state witness during the court proceeding as the signature on the said agreement that police found in possession by Hetinu did not corroborate with his signatures used in his bank account, passport nor his drivers license.

Kandiu has now asked The National Newspaper to retract the report or he would seek legal advice and take legal proceeding against the media organisation.

"I don't go around bribing people to buy my way into anything," Kandiu said.

"I would have been arrested and charged (if) I was involved in any of this."

"Even I did not sign any contract with Mr Hetinu or whoever to induce my way into power."

He said Hentinu may be a sacrificial lamb and the real person who offered the money to Hetinu is out there.

Staff undergo training to improve sex crimes prosecution

A three-day Sexual Offences Squad (SOS) reflections workshop was held recently in Port Moresby with a view to improving investigations and prosecution of sex crimes.

The workshop, held at the Koitaki Country Club in Sogeri, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, was attended by the members of the Sexual Offence Squad of Boroko, Police prosecutors, a State prosecutor from the Office of the Public Solicitor of PNG and Advisors from the Papua New Guinea Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP).

The workshop was hosted by the Justice Services and Stability for Development (JSS4D) Program and led by Advisor Tevita Seruilumi and fully supported and funded under the Papua New Guinea Australian Partnership program in its priority areas to improve access to justice and help protection for survivors of family and sexual violence.

Mr Seruilumi said the workshop is a combination of reflection on the work of the SOS and to learn about some new areas they can improve on together as a group from prosecutions and investigations.

“Often when you do this work, it is not just exhaustive but also very traumatising and it impacts you.

“Not many people value and recognise the work of the CID and prosecutions, so this is one way to say thank you and also continue our learning,” Mr Seruilumi said.

The workshop was put together to reflect on the work of the SOS for the past three years and discuss the issues that arise as challenges, what currently works, and how they can improve in carrying out their duties diligently.

Police Prosecutor and Officer in Charge (OIC) Committal Court Sergeant Chris Iga said it was important that as prosecutors they know and understand how they would charge people committing sexual offenses, which relates to gender-based violence within the family circle, any organisation or the general public.

He said already on day one they had learnt a lot on topics surrounding sexual penetration of a minor, persistent sexual abuse, what kind of charges they can lay, understanding the concepts of why these laws have been changed or done away with such as the rule of corroboration, and the consent aspect of it.

Day one saw the participants paired into groups of two, with an exercise for crime scene identification, and search for elements that helped drive team work through a collaborative effort.

-Police Media Release

Papua New Guinea election official jailed

 As Papua New Guinea prepares to head to the campaign and polls, an election official was jailed for seven years by a judge at the National Court.

Terence Hetinu, 51, from Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands Province was the election manager for National Capital District in the 2017 election.

Terence Hetinu FB National Broadcasting Corporation

Judge Teresa Berrigan in sentencing Hetinu on Friday April, 30, 2022 said this must serve as a strong deterrent against election corruptions on the eve of another election.

She said there must be free, fair and safe elections.

Post Courier quoted Judge Berrigan: "It should never be forgotten that free and fair elections are the foundations upon which every thriving economy rests ensuring that government authority derives fromm the will of the people.

"The right to vote is enshrined in the Constitution and that right is sacred.

"The future of this country depends on it."

Hetinu is reported to have committed election fraud by corruptly receiving a large sum of money totaling K184, 300.

That money was to be used to pay polling officials in Port Moresby to secure the election of a candidate against incumbent Hon. Powes Parkop during the 2017 National General Elections.

Police arrested Hetinu on June 27, 2017 at a Six Mile polling location when he was caught red handed with the money bag inside an official Electoral Commission vehicle.

The money found by police Source: EMTV FB

Police also found in Hetinu's possession a contract of agreement between the candidate and himself detailing that Hetinu would be given a security business contract if the candidate won the election and be the Governor for National Capital District.

Judge Berrigan had described the crime as "official corruption of the worst kind", Post Courier reported.

Former Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato who defended Hetinu at that time saying the money were election allowances was charged with similar offences but was later cleared while Hetinu was found guilty of official corruption.

Metropolitan Superintendent then Sylvester Kalaut had pointed out that they understood that all allowance for election officials  were to be paid through their respective bank accounts, and not in cash

Corruption in Papua New Guinea by public officials had been a huge concern by the public and corruption watch dogs and commentators.

Blogger Martyn Namorong has once commented on a panel discussion that Papua New Guineans were too aspirational and want to own assets and in order to acquire them sooner is through corrupt means.

This has contributed to increase in fraud and corruption by public officials.

Edwaki in West Sepik identified as hotspot for election violence

Edwaki in the Namea Local Level Government, Telefomin District in West Sepik has been identified as a hotspot for possible election related violence.

Vanimo town, the provincial headquarters of West Sepik

Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Joe Poema said in a statement released by police media that Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers in Vanimohave been deployed to the area to collect intelligence reports on the killings of a policeman and two locals last year.

The killings were reported to have been a result of a confrontation between police mobile squad members and local villagers last year over logging disputes.

Poema in the police statement said the area was 'volatile' and identified as a hotspot.

The CID officers were needed to collect intelligence reports and information gathered would assist them develop security operation plans and deploy personnel.

Poema said policemen were also on standby to travel to Telefomin station this week under the sponsorship of Telefomin District Development Authority (DDA) to conduct awareness and gather intelligent assessment reports.

They will remain there till the end of this month.

He said if there is air transport support then they will go to Oksapmin, Yapsie and the Namea Local Level Government areas as well to conduct awareness campaigns and do risk assessments.

Namea LLG which Edwaki comes under is near Lumi and Nuku on the Sepik plains.

Election security plans for West Sepik are on track though with guidance from the Provincial Election Steering Committee (PESC)

Poema said they were conducting election briefings weekly to ensure policemen and women are taking ownership of the security aspect of the election before going into the election campaign and the polling periods.

Marape says anyone implicated in the controversial UBS loan will be dealt with

 Prime Minister James Marape today received 15 volumes of the Commission of Inquiry report into the controversial Union Bank of Switzerland loan to buy shares with Oil Search.

This transaction happened when Ialibu Pangia MP Peter O'Neill was Prime Minister and Marape was the Finance Minister in 2014.

Prime Minister James Marape when giving his acknowledgement to the COI team

Upon receiving the report tabled in 15 volumes Marape said his government had to ensure there was an inquiry taken place based on an Ombudsman Commission report.

"We knew something went wrong based on the Ombudsman Commission report," Marape said.

And in receiving the completed report which will be availed to all parliamentarians, he described the occasion as very important.

He said he was not privy to the report but said based on the findings and recommendations from the report if anyone will have to restitute money back to the people of Papua New Guinea, it should happen and if anyone involved will have to be criminally prosecuted, it must happen as well.

Marape said the report will not collect dust.

Chief Commissioner Sir Salamo Injia said there will be sufficient copies available for all Members of Parliament by the last sitting of the 10th Parliament at the end of the month.

Marape was grateful for that saying all MPs will be privy to the report.

The report culminates a two and a half years of inquiry and subsequent compiling which involved a handful of competent local and expatriates in law, ICT, transcriptions and writing reports.

It contains evidence, analysis, findings and a summary.

Marape said all transactions of public funds must not be hidden from the public and no matter how much it costs and how long gone a controversial transaction was made, there must be findings made and clarity put to it.

In 2014, the PNG Government took out a $AUD 1.2 billion loan through the Sydney office of UBS to buy shares in the ASX-listed company Oil Search.

Bulolo Water Supply Development Launched

Saturday 19th March 2022, Bulolo, Morobe Province.
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Witnessed by a packed crowd of town residents and a few MPs, the Bulolo Town Water Supply project was finally jointly launched on Saturday 19th March 2022 in Bulolo by the Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Bulolo, Hon Sam Basil and Minister for State Owned Enterprises Hon. William Duma.

In 2013 the then Peter O'Neill government challenged SOE's to bring utility services to rural areas.

It declared 2013 as the year of implementation.

Ministers Sam Basil and William Duma posing with other officials at the launch PC: DNPM and ULP

The project has been planned over a period of 12 years since 2011, initially proposed by the Hon. Member and after years of planning, feasibility, design and securing of funds, Water PNG Limited has finally concluded the awarding and signing off on the Bulolo Town Water Supply project last October.
Fully funded through a World Bank Concessional Loan (IBRD 155-047), the Bulolo Town Water Supply development is one of 9 District Towns to be supported through this loan.
Bialla is the first District Town to opened/commissioned under this loan facility.
The laucching will see the first phase of development take off, worth K23.0m and this is expected to be completed in 12 months with the second phase (worth K25.0m) to immediately follow.
The full development of the Bulolo Town Water Supply project should see about 1700 service connections which will also include schools, the hospital and small operating SMEs.
In thanking all stakeholders the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for its continued support throughout the years.
Through the Capital Investment Budget, the DNPM had allocated about K4.0m to Water PNG Limited for project design and administrative cost.

Saturday March 19, 2022 is a significant day for Bulolo residents PC: DNPM and ULP

DPM Basil reminded the Bulolo Town Authority and residents to work with Water PNG Limited and the Contractor SinoHydro Limited to see the project implemented well.
Water PNG Limited will initially operate and manage the water supply system with plans to hand over to the District in the long run.

-Press Release