INQUIRY INTO THE NATIONAL MUSUEM AND ART GALLERY Excerpts Mentioning Executive Summary (xx) had actively misled the Museum, the NEC, the Prime Minister and the Board of Trustees into believing, variously, that the aircraft would be owned or part owned by Papua New Guinea and would be returned to Papua New Guinea. The Authority to Refer Background Facts This entity is represented by Mr. Robert Greinert who personally salvages aircraft in Papua New Guinea and who allowed his or
HARS permit to be used by Aero Archaeology LLC to remove and export the Swamp
Ghost.
Mr Greinert appeared at the Inquiry but did not
answer adequately or at all, queries put to him both at the Inquiry or at a
later date in writing.
The Committee finds that HARS and Mr. Greinert have acted as agents and facilitators for wealthy foreign collectors and that the demarcation between Greinert’s personal interests and HARS are unclear. A valuation of the Swamp Ghost aircraft was made in 2004 and presented by the Director to the Trustees of the Museum as an independent valuation. It was, in fact, made by a shareholder of Aero Archaeology Limited and the agent of that company, Mr. Robert Greinert. The value of the wreck was estimated at USD 12,000 and, unsurprisingly, Greinert commended the offer of Aero Archaeology LLC as fair and reasonable. Why the National Museum & Art Gallery settled
for less than the amount deposited by MARC, is unknown, but was presumably
based upon the “valuation” of Robert Greinert – that is to say, the
valuation of the buyer or its agent.
...received sworn oral evidence from the Acting Director of the National Museum and Art Gallery Mr. Simon Poraituk, the Chairman National Cultural Commission, Mr. Robert Greinert [and] Letter from Robert Greinert to the Public Accounts Committee dated the 23rd of June 2006; Facsimile Transmission from Robert Greinert to the Public Accounts Committee undated but received on the 12th July 2006. The evidence clearly showed that the Trustees were overborne as a result of threats made to them by or on behalf of the buyer and/or by its agent Mr. Robert Greinert to the effect that unless the export of the Swamp Ghost was approved, litigation would be commenced against the Trustees personally. Before the commencement of the second day of the
Inquiry, written requests for assistance were sent to HARS, Mr Robert
Greinert, Mr and every collector and museum
known to be in possession of War Surplus Materials from Papua New Guinea. All
those interested parties were provided with the opportunity to make submissions
or answer allegations from the Committee.
Removal and Attempted Export of the Swamp Ghost Letter from Robert Greinert to the Public Accounts Committee dated the 23rd of June 2006; Further the Trustees were not told that Aero Archaeology LLC, HARS and Mr. Robert Greinert were not certified to carry on business in Papua New Guinea. Before the commencement of the second day of the
Inquiry, written requests for assistance were sent to HARS, Mr Robert
Greinert, Mr Fred Hagen, Classic Jets Museum and every collector and museum
known to be in possession of War Surplus Materials from Papua New Guinea. All
those interested parties were provided with the opportunity to make submissions
or answer allegations from the Committee.
Further, neither
Robert Greinert, HARS or any entity known to be operating on
their behalf in removing and exporting aircraft wrecks from Papua New Guinea
were certified to carry on business in this country.
Interim Finding Further, Mr Greinert had a history of salvaging for, with or on behalf of Mr Fred Hagen
quite irrespective of the fact that the State of Papua New Guinea owns all War
Surplus Material which he was salvaging and exporting for HARS. HARS and/or Mr
Greinert appear to be acting as agents for wealthy collectors irrespective of
the terms of their agreements with the Museum.
The Committee has
established that Historical Aircraft Restoration Society gave to the Museum the
following: The Committee has been advised that HARS paid an additional K10,300 for travel expenses of Museum Officers and USD27,000 as a gift to the Museum from Mr Robert Greinert. Mr Greinert alleges that this money was stolen. Other Aircraft Wrecks Exported From Papua New Guinea P-47 “Sweetwater
Swatter” 42-8066 (sold to Robert Greinert
1991) A list of approximately 30 of these
aircraft were given to Mr. Greinert for comment. He denied knowing anything of
a number of these aircraft. The Committee does not accept this evidence.
On the Second Day of
the Inquiry the Committee requested Mr Robert Greinert to provide the Committee
with a Statement of his plans or proposals to repatriate all aircraft and parts
to Papua New Guinea or to recover all aircraft and parts which he may have
exported but on-sold or given away. Mr. Greinert was given seven days to produce the Statement. Nothing has been received.
The Public Accounts
Committee further directed Mr. Greinert to provide a full and complete
Statement of all and every payment, donation, political donation, gift,
consideration or reward including payments to staff or officers of the Museum
or payments of per diems, travel expenses, accommodation or meals for or to
staff or officers of the Museum. Nothing has been received.
The Committee has been advised that HARS paid an additional K10,300 for travel expenses of Museum Officers and USD27,000 as a gift to the Museum from Mr Robert Greinert. Mr Greinert alleges that this money was stolen. That, in particular,
the State call for an immediate account of the whereabouts of all War Surplus
Materials removed from Papua New Guinea by Robert Greinert, Historic
Aircraft Restoration Society and from all collectors and
Museums known to have been or to be in possession of War Surplus Materials
removed from or originating in Papua New Guinea.
Findings Referrals Mr Robert Greinert, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society be referred to the
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Australian Federal Police and/or
relevant State Police Forces for investigation of any and all sales by them of
War Surplus Materials exported from Papua New Guinea with a view to
establishing whether there has been any breach of the Criminal Law in that sale
or conversion of State property.
That the statement of Mr. Mark Katakumb be referred to the Police for a full investigation of the allegations of assault made by him against Mr. Robert Greinert. Recommendations |
