An expensive government vehicle was badly damaged when it veered off the road and crashed in the Alligator Creek area, east Honiara, over the weekend.
The G-plated vehicle with plate number G-3634 was allocated and garaged by the recently assigned Provincial Police Commander for Guadalcanal Province, Daniel Hunikera.
The incident occurred between 4am and 5am on Saturday night.
Reports the paper obtained said, Hunikera was driving towards town when the incident occurred.
“The vehicle was badly damaged from the front,” one eye witness said.
Witnesses said, straight after the incident, parts of the vehicle were stolen, including the lights.
According to police traffic report, Hunikera was under the influence of alcohol and travelling alone when his vehicle crashed.
According to police procedures, Hunikera is expected to be served with a notice of intended prosecution.
This should be issued by an Assistant Commissioner Police or deputy in this case within 14 days.
But a police officer on Saturday night told the paper they doubt this course of action will be taken against Hunikera.
“If such if this was junior police officer, he or she will be interdicted straight after,” the officer, who asked not to be named, said.
The officer said they will be watching the case closely to see whether any action will be taken against Hunikera.
The officer said most senior police officers at executive level were allocated vehicles to garage.
He questioned this new policy, saying according to the general orders, only the police commissioner is permitted to garage a vehicle.
Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast is currently overseas and could not be reached for comments.
Hunikera could not be located yesterday for comments.
By BRADFORD THEONOMI
