Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Suspended Vanuatu VMF head says mutiny probe still on

Posted at 22:38 on 09 October, 2012 UTC

The suspended commander of the Vanuatu Mobile Force, Aru Maralau, says the mutiny investigation implicating the acting police commissioner is still open.

The suspended commander made the comment just days after the President, Iolou Johnson Abbil, sacked the police commissioner, Joshua Bong, and re-instated Arthur Caulton as the acting commissioner.

Mr Caulton had been arrested for alleged mutiny last month but on his return to office, several top officers, including Mr Maralau, were suspended.

The Supreme Court has thrown out the charges, but Mr Maralau says the investigation is still on.

“The Supreme Court has struck out the charges but not the case. The case will be raised again this Thursday, based on the evidence we have collected.”

Aru Maralau says the probe at look mutiny or conspiracy.

He says he and other officers will challenge their suspension in court.