National Airports Corporation boss Rex Kiponge arrested, charged

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

National Airports Corporation boss Rex Kiponge arrested, charged

PORT MORESBY: National Airports Corporation (NAC) chief executive Rex Kiponge was yesterday (Nov 17, 2022) arrested and charged with impersonation and conspiracy, Police Commissioner David Manning says.

Kiponge, who was attending a conference with the 22 provincial airport managers on Loloata island outside Port Moresby, was brought to the Boroko police station where he was arrested and charged.

Manning confirmed the arrest and charges but declined to give any further details.

The news break was reported by The National:

Airports boss arrested

November 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
NATIONAL Airports Corporation (NAC) chief executive Rex Kiponge was yesterday arrested and charged with impersonation and conspiracy, according to police.
Kiponge, who was attending a conference with the 22 provincial airport managers at Loloata island outside Port Moresby, was brought to the Boroko Police Station where he was charged and detained.
Manning confirmed that Kiponge was charged with impersonation and conspiracy, but declined to give any further details.
Manning said police were looking into the closure of the Jackson airport last Saturday to see if a criminal offence had been committed.
“Police have sufficient evidence and will be working with Casa (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to ensure that all aspects, administratively and the operations, are investigated,” he said.
Meanwhile, NAC employees gathered outside the Boroko police station yesterday afternoon calling for the immediate intervention of Transport and Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt to resolve the row between the Casa director and Kiponge.
Kagamuga Airport manager Paul Rumints said the NAC just wanted normalcy restored.
“We are running airports here,” Rumints said.
“It’s not a game. If Mr Kiponge has broken laws of our country, then charge him. If not, release him and let him run NAC.
He said the NAC staff would not support anyone who had broken any laws.
“We are here because we do not want disruptions (to our work),” he said.
“If he has broken the law, charge him. If not, release him and allow us to do our jobs,” he said.
NAC commercial general manager Wally Eki also called for politicians to stop interfering with the NAC operations.

“NAC does not belong to the government or the minister, NAC belongs to the eight million people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.

Court to review Casa decision on airports’ closures

November 18, 2022The NationalNational

THE National Airports Corporation (NAC) is challenging the decision of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) not to issue aerodrome operating certificates to NAC operate the Nadzab airport in Lae and Kiunga airport in Western.
NAC managing director and chief executive Rex Kiponge filed the case in the National Court.
Kiponge’s lawyer Noel Ako told National Court Acting Judge Gertrude Tamade in Waigani yesterday that he had applied for the renewal of the certificates for both airports prior to the expiry date of July 30.
But Casa did not process the application.
He said NAC applied for the renewal of the Nadzab and Kiunga’s certificates after Casa inspected the airports in May.
“The regulator (Casa) delayed the process of issuing the certificates and issued a notice to cease operations of the airport after the expiry date,” Ako said.
The Court heard that on Aug 30, Casa ceased all flights from Nadzab and Kiunga Airport because NAC did not have valid aerodrome operating certificates.
Kiponge then obtained a stay order in the National Court on Sept 1, allowing flights to resume to Nadzab and Kiunga.
Both airports are operating on temporary six-month certificates, expiring in February next year.
Casa lawyer Robin Kawat said Kiponge’s application for the renewal of the certificates was not proper.
He argued that the Civil Aviation Act stated that certain personnel at NAC must pass a fit and proper test which he said was normally done by CASA.
Kawat said Casa director Benedict Oraka refused to recognise Kiponge’s application because Kiponge was not certified as a fit and proper person.
But Ako maintained that Casa had already certified Kiponge as a fit and proper person.
Acting Judge Tamade said she would hand down her decision later.

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