GOV’T INVESTIGATES MINISTER’S ABDUCTION

By Deli Oso
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the government is dispatching the police to investigate reports that the Minister for Communication, Aviation and Meteorology, Mr Johnson Koli resigned from the government after being kidnapped by agents of the Opposition Group.

Mr Sogavare said Mr Koli was in his constituency for a funeral when he was taken against his will to sign a prepared resignation letter.

He said as far as he understood the former Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mr Nolen Leni was the mastermind behind the kidnap.

The Prime Minister said three public officers were amongst those who executed the abduction.

He said it was unfortunate that the Opposition had resorted to committing crime to secure the number to overthrow the government.

The Prime Minister said the Opposition had been accusing the government of resorting to threat to maintain support to remain in office but it was really the opposite way around.

He said the government had facilitated Mr Koli’s trip to his constituency for the funeral without keeping surveillance on him because it respected its MPs’ freedom of movement.

Mr Sogavare said he and the Minister for Police and National Security had discussed the matter and decided to dispatch the police to investigate.

Source: PMC