By DALCY LULUA
SOUTHERN Highlands Provincial Administrator, Jerry Sonk, has issued a suspension notice without pay to Mendi Town Manager John Nopli in connection with an incident that occurred last week Sunday.
Allegedly, around 10:30 pm, Nopli and a group of men approached Bank South Pacific’s ATM machines, looted, and destroyed two ATM machines.
The suspension letter from the SHP Provincial Administrator states: “The decision to suspend you from the office of the Mendi Town Manager is based on the recent allegations of your direct involvement in looting and damaging the two (2) BSP ATM machines on the 4th of February 2024. Your uncalled-for and unacceptable actions as a responsible person were witnessed by security officers from Expo Security Services and the general public. Your direct involvement in this allegation has reached various media platforms, such as Facebook, bringing disgrace and shame to the Provincial Public Offices.”
The letter continues: “Your actions and direct involvement in damaging the BSP ATMs are unacceptable and uncalled for, and, in my strongest expression, occurred under the influence of alcohol. Your behavior as the responsible person to manage and protect all private and public properties within Mendi Urban is criminal in nature. Pending investigations on your allegations and effective from the date of this letter, you are formally suspended without pay from the office as the Mendi Town Manager,” added the Provincial Administrator.
The incident has garnered the attention of leader and businessman Michael Ipa, who expressed grief and pain upon learning of the alleged incident.
Ipa calls for the Provincial Police Commissioner in Mendi, with the assistance of a qualified public prosecutor, to investigate and arrest the culprit who must face the full force of the law. He emphasizes that Mendi Town belongs to all the people of the SHP and PNG, and such acts must not go unpunished.
“Our livelihood in Mendi and SHP revolves around this bank, and I am sure these acts have broken the hearts of many people who will become innocent victims of the Kanaka primitive actions,” added Mr. Ipa.
Member for Mendi Munhiu Raphael Tonpi also condemns the actions of the town manager.
