Manning says Nii terminated not because he refused to allow arrest of O’Neill

News that matter in Papua New Guinea


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Manning says Nii terminated not because he refused to allow arrest of O’Neill

PORT MORESBY: Police Comm David Manning says former legal service director Paul Puri Nii (now a magistrate) was terminated because he had breached his contract through his conduct.

Manning testified as a defence witness in a leadership tribunal looking into allegations of misconduct against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer.

He disputed evidence by Nii that his termination was because he had refused to allow police to arrest former prime minister Peter O’Neill in 2019.

The National reported the tribunal proceedings:





Manning testifies at tribunal

December 16, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By CLARISSA MOI
POLICE Commissioner David Manning says former legal service director Paul Puri Nii was terminated because he had breached his contract through his conduct.
Manning testified as a defence witness in a leadership tribunal looking into allegations of misconduct in office against suspended Madang MP Bryan Kramer at Waigani yesterday.
He disputed evidence by Nii, now a committal court magistrate, that his termination was because he had refused to allow police to arrest former prime minister Peter O’Neill in 2019.
There were 14 allegations initially raised against Kramer, however, prosecutors abandoned two.
The tribunal will determine Kramer’s culpability on the remaining 12 allegations of misconduct in office.
Three allegations relate to social media publications purportedly scandalising the judiciary, namely the conduct of Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, in suggesting a conflict of interest.
Another allegation related to the termination of Nii, alleging that Kramer’s interference with police operational matters, when he was police minister, had resulted in his termination as director legal.
Kramer had testified on Monday that he did not interfere with police operations.
Kramer’s lawyer Miglshi Giruakonda asked Manning yesterday to confirm whether he had met with Kramer on Oct 16, 2019.
Manning confirmed that Kramer went to his office on the date, but he could not confirm the specific details of the discussions as a couple of things were discussed.
He added that prior to Kramer’s visit to the office, Manning had called Nii into his office to conduct file search concerning O’Neill’s case.
Giruakonda further told Manning that Nii had given evidence to the tribunal that Manning was adamant Kramer had tutored Manning, and wanted O’Neill to be arrested.
And while Nii was at the Boroko Police Station, Manning had been persistently calling him to ensure O’Neill was arrested despite the National Court order staying O’Neill’s arrest.
Manning said at the time, they were dealing with two hand-up briefs, two warrants of arrest and, of course, he would be frustrated.
However, Manning explained that as police officers, they were trained to be impartial and independent in their work and to say that he was pressured by Kramer was not correct.
Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin in cross-examination told Manning that there was evidence given by Nii that he was terminated because Kramer had wanted O’Neill to be arrested.
And Nii had refused to allow police to arrest O’Neill because of the court order staying O’Neill’s arrest that he had been terminated.
Manning said that if this was so, it would have been stated as reasons for Nii’s dismissal.
He maintained that Nii was terminated because he had breached his contract.
The tribunal was told that as per Nii’s contract, he was issued a police vehicle to be used on official duty. However, Nii was using another vehicle which he was not entitled to, and both vehicles were wholly funded by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
The tribunal also heard that when it came to light that Nii was using two vehicles, he was suspended.
And after an opinion was formed that Nii had abused office, it was satisfied that Nii had breached his contract and he was terminated.
The tribunal was also told that in 2012, the former police commissioner Tom Kulunga and Manning met with Sir Gibbs at his home, when he was the deputy chief justice, to discuss the arrest of former chief justice Sir Salamo Injia.
The tribunal also heard that after that discussion, Vanimo-Green MP Belden Namah and some members of the police had stormed the court house, sometimes in May, 2012.
Manning, however, could not confirm how Kulunga had executed the task.
The tribunal continues today.

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