By JULIA DAIA BORE PACIFIC Equity and Investment Limited boss John Ruimb claimed last Friday that Opposition leader Peter O’Neill and former Forest Minister Fabian Pok were behind his removal as acting managing director of the Investment Corporation of PNG in 1997. Mr Ruimb told the Commission of Inquiry into the Pacific Balance Fund (formerly ICPNG) in Port Moresby that on Nov 3, 1997, Dr Pok and Mr O’Neill called into his office in ANG Haus. He said Dr Pok had wanted to inspect ICPNG property on Chesterfield Street because he expressed interest in renting one and wanted an inspection. He said an inspection was conducted with Kris Bongare, the then investment manager and Rombong Gago, the then property officer. Mr Ruimb said following the inspection of the properties, they all returned to his office where Dr Pok and Mr O’Neill asked to be alone with him for a private discussion. “We discussed further the rental arrangements for the property. Dr Pok wanted an option to buy the property as well, which I rejected and offered him the property for rent only at K500 per week.” He claimed that after the discussion, Mr O’Neil in the presence of Dr Pok pointed to Investment Haus, NIC Haus, Sea Park Apartments and ANG House and said: “I want you to terminate the existing property management contracts for these properties and award the contracts to Hunter Real Estate Ltd (which later became Port Moresby First National Real Estate Ltd) immediately. We have formed the Government and we intend to stay in office until 2002 and therefore, we need to make enough money to look after our members. If you don’t help us, then we will have to remove you and place someone in your place that will listen to us and facilitate what we want.” Mr Ruimb’s claims were in a statement to the commission of inquiry. Mr Ruimb said he outlined to Mr O’Neil the normal procedures and maintained that property management contracts would be tendered once the contract terms expired. He said about half an hour after the two men had left his office, Dr Pok called him and told him to disregard Mr O’Neil’s remarks. He, however, said he received several telephone calls regarding the issue from Maurice Sullivan, the general manager for Hunter Real Estate Ltd, who followed up on the matter with letters. Mr Ruimb said he was terminated on Feb 6, 1998 by the then treasurer Iairo Lasaro.N
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 02:42:33 +0000