7 Aug 2014

PNG PM and cabinet removed from contempt case

12:43 pm on 7 August 2014

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and cabinet have been removed from a contempt of court case related to the Paraka Lawyers scandal.

The Post Courier reports that the four accused of contempt, who were cited along with Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki, have been yesterday removed from the National Court proceedings.

The four are Mr O'Neill, the Police Minister Robert Atiyafa, the Justice Minister and the Attorney-General Ano Pala and the National Executive Council.

They were initially named in contempt proceedings in June along with Mr Vaki over a failure to execute a warrant of arrest on the Prime Minister.

The warrant stemmed from an investigation into Mr O'Neill's role in approving allegedly illegal state payments to the Paraka law firm.

The National Court will only proceed with alleged contempt of court against Commissioner Vaki when the case returns before Justice Ere Kariko on September the 3rd.

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki Photo: RNZI