PNG Communications Minister Sam Basil Photo: supplied
The clerk of Papua New Guinea's parliament says any charges laid against the Madang Open MP Bryan Kramer for referring to a fellow MP as "dumb" on facebook would be the result of a private prosecution.
Mr Kramer's comment on a social media platform was directed at the Minister for Communications and IT, Sam Basil.
Mr Basil told PNG's Post Courier that he would have Mr Kramer charged and arrested under the Cybercrime Act.
However PNG's clerk of parliament Vela Konivaro said there were no grounds for a criminal case and any such action would be the result of a private civil prosecution.
"This is all politics so as to whether he takes that course of action is his personal decision. It's not to do with parliament or anything of that kind," he said.
"But yes, that act does allow for prosecution of this nature. The press has reported that he's considering that action. It's a matter for his personal decision."
Bryan Kramer Photo: Supplied
However Mr Konivaro said there is a prima facie case to be heard by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee over so-called 'disrespectful' social media comments made by the MP.
"Posts in media including Facebook are not necessarily subject to their control, however there are instances where, even if whether it's media or a person publishing, relates to a matter of privilege on the floor of parliament, that is a subject of a matter for referral," said Vela Konivaro.
Mr Konivaro said he expected the Speaker would refer the matter to Privileges Committee upon his return later this week.
He said an MP found guilty of abusing the Privileges Act could face up to six months in prison and a fine of 400 Kina.
