The Vanuatu Issue Nº 458
Independent
L’IND EP EN DA N T
November 24 - 30, 2012
Foundation Committee Inc.
DU
VANUATU
news@independent.vu
250XPF (Noumea)
t 50 V 1 Y ONL
Plane crash test for rescue services
Story and pictures by Ruby Malverus
IT looked dramatic, with bodies sprawled around the airport as the paramedics urgently moved in… But fortunately it was not a real disaster, rather a training exercise at Four paramedic-manned ambulances arrived at the scene of the ‘plane crash’ from the airport’s control room. On the Rescue Operation Victor Lima India (VLI) exercise last Thursday, paramedics with the help of other rescuers gathered casualties and continuously assessed all patients as they are transported to the ‘hospital’. One of the 30 casualty actors who wanted to remain anonymous said the paramedic service was gentle but immediate. “If this was a real plane crash, I would have been alive because the paramedic services were fast, gentle and serious about what they were doing as they stuff,” said the actor. Continued Page 2
Goiset case may fall over
by Richard Michael THE forgery case that has been brought against the Vanuatu’s roving ambassador to Russia Mme Goiset Thi Tham may be withdrawn if notorious ship owner Pascal Ahn Quahn Saken fails to report to the prosecution in Port Vila. Prosecutor Alfred Bice said that Saken, the alleged owner of the luxury yatch
if his signatures have been forged in the alleged false documents over ownership of a disputed vessel. He said Goiset is charged with prohibition of forgery contrary to section 140 and uttering forged documents contrary to section 141 of the Penal Code Act CAP
INSIDE
135. Both charges carry up to 10 and 15 years imprisonment. In a Preliminary Inquiry this week, Mr Bice sought an adjournment before Magistrate Peter Moses until he could get a clear report on Saken’s stance on the case. He gave Saken until 2pm yesterday and unfortunately The Independent could not get updated information before going to press. But it was considered highly unlikely that Saken would appear in this country at this time. Mr Bice said according to some police
belonged to her. “Mr Saken told them to seek more information about the vehicle as he only gave the vehicle to Mme Goiset for use while he is out of the country,” he said.
than VT2.2 million.
He said the allegation in the case has shown that Saken is claiming for a vehicle that has been given to Mme Goiset for her use but Saken found that the vehicle’s ownership had been tranferred and is now registered under the name of the Vanuatu ambassador. Mr Bice said Saken spotted the alleged illegal transfer after he sent his two debt collectors, Ira Mateupage Donald from Samoa and Michael Tangataolakepa from Tonga, to collect his debt from some leaders and famous business houses in Port Vila. He said that Donald and Tangataolakepa needed a vehicle for their assignment. He said that Saken instructed his debt collectors to go and ask for his vehicle from Mme Goiset but she claimed the vehicle
Carpenter Motors accountant guilty
Pourquoi le camp de Natapei a perdu?
MP i wan wokman
did not want to talk to him because he was the prosecutor who challenged the Phocea
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told Donald and Tangataolakepa that the vehicle no longer belonged to Mr Saken. “Some documents were signed by him (Saken) to tranfer the ownership card of the vehicle to the Vanuatu roving ambassador to Russia. directly to me that he did sign the documents or he didn’t.” Mr Bice said the case was placed on hold and if Saken failed to talk or e-mail him directly, the case might be quashed.
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THE PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION AGENT OF THE INDEPENDENT ON OUTER ISLANDS IS VANUATU POST. COPIES RECEIVED BY OUTER ISLAND HIGH SCHOOLS ARE COURTESY OF WESTPAC VANUATU.
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