Papua New Guinea's Police Commissioner Gari Baki has defended his move to lock fraud squad officers out of their office for the past two weeks.
The independence of the PNG police force is being questioned with ongoing allegations of political interference. Photo: RNZ
The commissioner was asked on Tuesday by the National Court to reopen the fraud squad office.
Gary Baki appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika who told the commissioner that the office must remain open so the public can make reports and officers can perform their functions.
Mr Baki said he temporarily closed the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Office because of a lack of accountability of fraud squad investigators.
He has accused the fraud squad and its head, Matthew Damaru, of a range of breaches of police procedure and for not keeping him in the loop with high profile investigations.
The fraud squad last month made a series of high profile arrests, including that of the Attorney general and a Supreme Court judge, and appeared to be zeroing in on the prime minister Peter O'Neill in relation to a major fraud case.
Commissioner Baki subsequently sought to suspend Mr Damaru and his fraud squad team but this was stayed by the court.
The judge warned that Mr Baki's ongoing blockage of the fraud office was impeding efforts to investigate fraud.
PNG Police Commissioner, Gary Baki. Photo: EMTV
The commissioner said his actions were "done to put officers back in line and not to stop any investigations or matters before the courts."
He said he has ordered all fraud officers to continue their duties investigating or helping to prosecute cases before the courts through the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Crimes.
Commissioner Baki said the temporary closure of the fraud office was about him asserting command and control in the force.
He said he will be meeting all the fraud squad members including the Director of the NFACF, Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru, to formalise the chain of command until all matters before the courts are settled.
The Commissioner also intended to meet with the presidents of the student representative councils of both the University of PNG and Lae University of Technology to brief them on the current state of affairs.
"I want to educate and inform the leaders of tomorrow so that they make wise and logical decisions," said Commissioner Baki.
The students have called for the prime minister to step aside to allow the fraud case to be prosecuted in court.
