23 Sep 2004

PNG attorney-general reportedly in restaurant fracas

3:50 pm on 23 September 2004

Papua New Guinea's top law official could face criminal charges after an incident in a Port Moresby restaurant yesterday.

The Post-Courier newspaper reports that Attorney-General Francis Damem, punched a civil servant delivering him a letter while he was having lunch in the restaurant.

The letter contained notices of disciplinary charges for which he was suspended last week.

He is accused of breaching his terms of contract by allegedly benefitting from an out of court settlement of a claim against the State and receiving cash payments for speedy settlements of two other claims against the State.

Mr Damem has denied the accusations.

Authorities have been trying to serve Mr Damem his suspension notice since last Tuesday.