Police in Morobe province have withdrawn three of its officers who have been serving logging companies for some years.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Jacob Singura exercised orders issued by Police Commissioner David Manning to withdraw officers serving logging camps throughout the country to withdraw officers serving in logging camps in the area.
He stated that the three officers have been serving logging camps under previous PPCs in different logging camps.
“Under commissioner’s advice, I have instructed the officers to leave the logging camps immediately.” “I have issued a memo advising these officers to return to their normal duties.”
“These officers have been on dual employment payrolls and were only serving logging camps for more than two years,” said the PPC.
Singura could not confirm whether the logging companies the police officers were engaged under are legal and operating under PNG forestry laws.
This is because there are some logging companies that the National Court has ordered them to stop operating in June 2021.