Matthew Wale raises concerns over police commissioner appointment amid unresolved allegations and accountability issues.
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has issued a blunt warning over the proposed appointment of Ian Vaevaso as Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, calling it a direct threat to accountability and public trust.
Wale said the move ignores serious allegations that Vaevaso was involved in the improper handling and destruction of seized illicit drugs.
He adds the matter was formally investigated and escalated to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Wale said that the DPP advised the Police and Prisons Service Commission to suspend Vaevaso pending further investigations.
Instead, he said the Commission reportedly sought advice from the Attorney General’s Office, which dismissed the evidence as insufficient and recommended closing the file, clearing the path for Vaevaso’s appointment.
Wale slammed the decision as a “gross failure of judgment” and a dangerous signal that accountability can be brushed aside at the highest levels.
He warned that pushing ahead with the appointment while serious questions remain unresolved, undermines the rule of law and erodes confidence in the police.
The Opposition Leader also called on the Office of the Governor-General to immediately halt the process, stressing that such a critical appointment must meet the highest standards of integrity.
“This is not about presuming guilt,” Wale said.
“It is about protecting the credibility of our institutions. No one under active investigation should be elevated to the top of law enforcement until the truth is fully established,” he said.
Wale warned that anything less risks lasting damage to governance, discipline within the force, and public confidence in the justice system.
Source: Opposition Press
