22 Jul 2014

PNG police boss ordered back to court

7:20 am on 22 July 2014

The National Court in Papua New Guinea has ordered the new Police Commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, to appear in court on Friday for contempt of court charges.

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki Photo: RNZI

Mr Vaki failed to appear in court on Monday after being served with court documents on the charges by police fraud squad lawyer McRonald Nale.

The contempt charges stem from Mr Vaki not following court orders to arrest the prime minister, Peter O'Neill.

The fraud squad has asked the court to "severely punish" Mr Vaki for contempt.

PNG Village reports the National Court Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, warned that if Mr Vaki does not appear at the court on Friday an arrest warrant will be issued.