By LYNETTE KIL
THE final reports into the tragic shooting-deaths of last July 4 at Kupiano in Central Province during a mock training exercise by soldiers has been completed.
The reports were presented to Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph on Tuesday by the General Board of Inquiry.
“The final report is now before Central Agency Coordinating Committee (CACC) to process before it is tabled with the National Executive Council (NEC) to deliberate,” he said.
“All recommendations will be deliberated at the NEC and actions will be taken per NEC directives.”
He thanked his predecessor Win Bakri Daki for commissioning the General Board of Inquiry.
“Such a tragedy in peace-time training of the PNGDF requires an investigation to allow for our people to understand the circumstances leading to the tragedy and enable closure to the lives of friends and relatives of the deceased,” the Minister said.
He said he sympathised with those affected by the tragedy.
Two soldiers were killed and one was injured during a mock training exercise which went wrong.
The exercise, which uses blank ammunition as part of the land phase of training, was alleged to have involved live ammunitions which resulted in the loss of life under friendly fire.
