1 Jul 2014

O'Neill's lawyers considering appeal

7:38 pm on 1 July 2014

The lawyer for Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has indicated there are grounds for appealing today's court ruling.

Peter O'Neill's legal team had applied for a stay on his arrest warrant but the National Court has ruled that it wasn't for the courts to interfere in a police investigation.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

Mr O'Neill's lawyer, Tiffany Twivey-Nonggorr, says the court's decision was unusual and there are grounds for appeal.

Ms Twivvey says her team could have made a lot more legal arguments, and will now consider their options.

The warrant was issued after an investigation by the now disbanded anti-corruption unit Taskforce Sweep, which accused Mr O'Neill of being involved in making corrupt payments to a law firm.

Our correspondent says a decision over the warrant now rests in the hands of the Acting Police Commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki.