Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Vanuatu President sacks police commissioner Bong

Posted at 19:38 on 05 October, 2012 UTC

Vanuatu’s President Iolou Johnson Abbil has sacked the police commissioner, Joshua Bong, in the latest phase of a row at the top of the police.

Mr Bong’s termination letter was handed over to him by the newly appointed chairman of Police Service Commission, Herve Hopkins, after the annual ceremony commemorating the signing of Vanuatu’s Constitution.

This morning’s ceremony saw Mr Bong escorting Mr Abbil to and from the event without Mr Bong knowing that his termination letter had already been signed.

Mr Bong’s review performance by the commission was supposed to take place on Monday but is now in question.

His contract ended last week but the Commission chaired by the vice chairman, Willie Karie, decided last Sunday that he would remain the commissioner until the performance review.

The sacking comes just hours after police arrested a Senior Inspector, Ron Tamtam, who was wanted since last weekend.

Senior Inspector Tamtam has been released by the acting police commissioner, Arthur Caulton, who has been re-appointed by the President.