THE initial investigation report from Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) on the Kupiano training incident will further be inquired by the General Board of Inquiry, chaired by Colonel Bruno Malau.
The Board will inquire into and scrutinize all areas of Defence administration, operations and training, and provide appropriate recommendations to the Defence hierarchy for improvement of administration, process and procedures. This will ensure accidents such as the one in Kupiano do not re-occur during PNGDF trainings in the future.
Procedure of the inquiry as directed by the Chairman will not bound to observe strict legal procedures or rules of evidence, but may admit and consider information as is available and relevant to the inquiry.
In interest of fairness, the Board may order that all or any evidence given before it, be given in private.
On Wednesday 9th August, 2023, the Board convened its first sitting at APEC House and summoned the Deputy Chief of PNGDF, Commodore Philip Polewara, to present to the Board the initial PNGDF investigation report.
While presenting the report, Commodore Polewara said the PNGDF investigation, from which the report is furnished, was conducted independently, without interference from the force’s higher command.
He said it is the initial PNGDF report into the training mishap that occurred on 4th July 2023 in Kupiano, claiming the lives of two members and injuring another along with a civilian.
Polewara said the report will serve as a key document for the Board to conduct their investigations to accertain facts.
Meanwhile, the session was adjourned on Wednesday afternoon and will resume on Friday 10am, giving Board members Thursday to read through the report.
