36 cops and impersonators to be charged as NiuSky Pacific undergoes investigation
A total of 23 police officers and 13 police impersonators will be arrested and charged in the coming days for their alleged involvement in providing unauthorized security services to the NiuSky Pacific Limited.
Assistant Commissioner of Police and NCD/Central Commander Benjamin Turi who is spearheading this investigation says these 23 regular officers were never released to engage with NiuSky Pacific under any form of agreement.
“Any long-term service required by an organization must go through the Police Commissioner’s Office and unfortunately there is no record of RPNGC having an agreement with NiuSky Pacific to engage some of our officers.”
From the investigation, it has been revealed that the 36 men both police officers and impersonators were engaged by NiuSky Pacific Limited in 2023 and 2024 with a huge amount of money being paid to individuals.
ACP Turi said NiuSky Pacific allegedly paid out K2.484 million in total to the 36 men between 2023 and 2024.
“Out of this money that was paid out, each police man received K69, 000 each, which is unreasonable amount of money for a place like Port Moresby unless they are being engaged in high-risk areas like Pogera.”
“This amount of money are usually paid to Mobile squad members engaged in high-risk areas up in the Highlands but not in Port Moresby where there is no such risks.”
“We will get search warrants and look though individual accounts as this is also seen as double dipping especially from uniformed men who are supposed to respect the law and keep away from such activities that are deemed unethical.”
The police have managed to arrest the first person out of 36 men today and he is currently locked up at the Boroko Police Cells.
He is one of the people identified to be impersonating police but also an employee of the NiuSky Pacific Limited.
“This particular impersonator arrested today is not only an employee of the NiuSky Pacific Limited, but he also runs a hire car business within the organization and I’m not sure what to call this, double dipping or triple dipping.”
Mr. Turi says the Police Commissioner has no record of such attachment or engagement with NiuSky Pacific Limited and with the recent behavior of police officers, the Police Commissioner is more determined to get rid of rotten apples within the force.
ACP Turi said they have requested for the Acting Managing Director Graham Blyth and the Board Chairman Robin Kawat to go down to Boroko Police station for an interview regarding these allegations, however they have not responded since last week.
“I call them both for an interview, but they didn’t come, and we tried to pick up the Acting Managing director at his office, they wouldn’t allow us in so now we have prepared a warrant of arrest for all of them.” Said ACP Turi.
NBC News has reached out to NiuSky Pacific Limited for their comments, however it was unsuccessful.