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The former chairman and member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Sam Dan Avock says he still considers himself a member of the Police Service Commission despite the gazetting of his termination last year.
Mr Dan Avock says he believes his termination as chairman and as member of the police service commission by former Prime Minister Sato Kilman was illegal and his lawyer is in the process of filing an application in court to seek the court’s confirmation.
He says his lawyer is still waiting for a response from the state law office before registering the case in court.
The former senior sergeant was appointed as a member of the Police Service Commission in 2013 by the then Minister for Internal Affairs, late Patrick Crowby, and was later appointed chairman by the Head of State following advice from then Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses.
However, his appointment in 2013 was challenged in court by his predecessor, Mr Hivire Hopkins, over illegal termination. Mr Hopkins won his case and was compensated for over VT100,000 on the grounds that Mr Avock’s appointment was made before the President officially signed his acceptance letter of appointment.
Everything changed for him after the MP for Malekula, Sato Kilman succeeded Mr Joe Natuman as prime minister in 2015 following a successful motion of no-confidence.
Mr Avock says at the time, he was shocked to have learnt only from the official gazette of his termination orders from then Prime Minister Kilman which technically ended his term as chairman and member of the police service commission.
“I was actually working in the office of the chairman of the Police Service Commission two weeks after the date of the gazetting of my termination because no one told me I had been terminated”, he said.
“I was never given an opportunity to respond to allegations made against me prior to my termination order from the Prime Minister. I believe my rights were infringed and am satisfied that I have a good course to fight my case through the court of law”, the happy Sam Dan said.
“My term as member of the police service commission actually expires next year 2017 and I have requested the court to confirm this through a court order,” he said.
He did not rule out the issue of compensation if the court rules in his favor.
