Managing director of PNG Forest Authority Kanawi Pouru is being sued for abuse of power

Source: Post Courier

A very senior public servant appeared for mention at the Waigani District Court yesterday for abuse of powers in office. Managing director of the PNG Forest Authority Kanawi Pouru was arested and charged last Friday for facilitating and allegedly issuing an operating licence to a controversial logging company late last month.

He was charged for abuse of authority in office, prejudicial to the lawful rights of the local logging company. He was released on a K1000 bail and appeared briefly for mention at the Waigani Committal Court yesterday. His matter returns to court once a set date is arranged.

A police brief stated that Mr Kanawi had illegally facilitated and issued an operating licence to the logging company without the authorisation of the timber permit holder, Magarida Timbers Limited.

According to the police summary of facts, the complaint laid agaisnt Mr Kanawi stemmed from facilitating the issuance of an operating licence to the logging company, Delta Timber Limited. The landowner company took the matter to the police, claiming that it had the legal perogative to engage any developer contractor, investor or logging company to harvest logs under its timber permit in thier TRP project area.

Magarida entered into legal binding agreement with the developer to harvest logs at its TRP project area, under the logging and marketing agreement (LMA). In 2009, the IPA issued a foreign enterprise certificate to the company to engage in logging activities at the specified area.

Upon the issuance to the alleged illegal licence the company went ahead and started harvesting logs without the original authorities knowledge. It is alleged that the actions of Mr kanawi contradicted the legally binding LMA between both companies and that is why the matter is now a police case and has been taken to court.