PNGs anti-corruption unit will continue to operate, for now

Transcript

Papua New Guinea's leading anti-corruption unit, Task Force Sweep, will continue to operate, for now, after the National Court adjourned its final decision on the unit's future.

The unit was disbanded after one of its investigations alleged that the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill had authorised the payments of 29 million US dollars to Paul Paraka lawyers.

But the court last week granted an interim stay on the abolition, which was extended yesterday ahead of a final decision on July the 28th.

Meanwhile, outside the courtroom, the lawyer representing the acting police commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, was bailed up and taken in for questioning for his own role in the Paul Paraka scandal.

Our PNG correspondent Todagia Kelola was at the court, and spoke to Jamie Tahana.

TODAGIA KELOLA: While the court was still in session Sam Bonner came out of the courthouse and he was trying to go to his vehicle when he was approached by the national fraud squad members of the police force. He was invited to accompany them to Konedobu fraud squad headquarters for an interview. Mr Bonner refused to come with them so he was arrested and he was detained by the fraud squad members. We have been told that he was dragged into the police vehicle and brought down to Konedobu where he was interviewed.

JAMIE TAHANA: And charges came from that?

TK: Yes, the director of the national fraud squad, Mr Mathew Damaru and his deputy Timothy Gitua held a news conference where they confirmed they laid formal charges, there were four charges slapped on Mr Bonner. The charges are count one - stealing, count two - conspiracy to defraud, count three - money laundering, and count four - resisting police arrest.

JT: What's this arrest in relation to, from my understanding it's from this whole Paul Paraka scandal isn't it.

TK: Yes, according to the director of the fraud squad Mathew Damaru, he was arrested in relation to the ongoing investigations into the Paul Paraka issue. Now Mr Damaru alleged that Mr Bonner was one of the conduits that Mr Paraka used when claiming the legal bills from the state, where some monies were paid into Mr Bonner's law firm and then later transferred to Paraka Law firm. Now the amount in question is $2.3 million [kina] that's according to the fraud squad director Mathew Damaru.

JT: Okay, and this afternoon we had rumours on social media that this was in relation to Geoffrey Vaki who Mr Bonner is a lawyer for, but it's got nothing to do with him does it?

TK: No, it's got nothing to do with him at all. These rumours on social media are not true and they're misleading. The charges that were laid this afternoon are the ones I've just given you.

JT: What were the rumours again?

TK: The rumours were that Mr Bonner was arrested for perverting the course of justice because he advised his client, new police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki.

JT: And this was all a bit of a sideshow to what was meant to happen today wasn't it, and that was the appearance of Sam Koim trying to keep Taskforce Sweep going, what happened inside of the courthouse?

TK: Yes inside the courthouse the lawyers argued as to whether the interim restraining orders obtained last week were to remain. Now the court had submissions from all parties and it reserved a decision till the 28th of July. Basically if the court agrees with Sam Koim's team then it may grant the orders that were being sought and that is to set aside the decision closing the Taskforce Sweep.