Criminal proceedings against PNG justice minister dismissed

7:26 pm on 26 August 2016
Papua New Guinea's Attorney General Ano Pala and the man he replaced in the job, Kerenga Kua.

Ano Pala (front) was arrested in April, but all charges against him have now been dropped. Photo: RNZ Todagia Kelola

A Papua New Guinea court has dismissed all criminal proceedings against the attorney general and justice minister, Ano Pala.

Mr Pala was arrested and charged with abuse of office and misappropriation in April, in a series of high-profile arrests by the police anti-corruption unit.

The Supreme Court last month quashed the warrant of arrest against Mr Pala, and his legal team has sought to end all proceedings against him.

The newspaper, The National, reports that magistrate John Kaumi said the Supreme Court ruling was clear, and dismissed all proceedings and ordered that Mr Pala's bail money be refunded.