Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Former Vanuatu police commissioner sought on mutiny and other allegations

Posted at 01:29 on 05 December, 2012 UTC

Vanuatu police are continuing to search for former police commissioner, Joshua Bong, the suspended commander of the Vanuatu Mobile Force, Aru Maralau and 4 other senior officers.

They are wanted over allegations of mutiny, inciting mutiny, kidnapping, unlawful arrest and unlawful imprisonment.

Another 11 officers were arrested on Tuesday.

Police had sought to arrest all 17 men over accusations that in late September they had attempted to arrest the Head of State, Iolu Johnson Abbil, the current deputy prime minister, Ham Lini and senior police.

The police chief of staff, Senior Inspector Ron Tamtam, says the 11 officers arrested yesterday have been released after making statements and they are now waiting to appear in Court.

Meanwhile the contract for the current acting police commissioner, Arthur Caulton, will expire at midnight tonight.

He became acting commissioner after Mr Bong’s contract ended on the 30th of September.

The Police Service Commission has shortlisted 3 people for the post.