20 Jun 2014

PNG leader urged to stand down

7:10 pm on 20 June 2014

The Governor of Papua New Guinea's East Sepik province, Sir Michael Somare, has urged the Prime Minister to allow a probe into a corruption case he's implicated in to take its course.

A stay has been put on an arrest warrant served on the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on Monday over his alleged role in illegal payments to a law firm.

Pacific Leaders: front row Victor Tutugoro, Sir Michael Somare, Oscar Temaru

Pacific Leaders: front row Victor Tutugoro, Sir Michael Somare, Oscar Temaru Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

However Mr O'Neill refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the investigation from which his arrest warrant stemmed, an extensive probe by PNG's anti-corruption unit Taskforce Sweep.

Sir Michael Somare, who was PNG's longest servnig Prime Minister, says Mr O'Neill should lead by example and adhere to the law.

"The law is for everybody and everybody should abide by the law. And my inner quest would be that he steps aside, allow the legal process to take its course. when the answer is correct in his side, then he can come back to the office. No one stops him from doing that."

Sir Michael Somare