PNG PM Peter O'Neill says he'll respect court decision to allow police to pursue arrest warrant

ABC

Photo: Peter O'Neill says it is for it for all citizens to respect the court's decision. (AFP: Aman Sharma )

 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says he will respect the court's decision to allow the police commissioner to pursue an arrest warrant against him.

In his ruling, Justice Ere Kariko said only in the clearest cases of abuse of police power should the court intervene in a police investigation.
He said in this case there was no such evidence of abuse of power.
At a media conference in Port Moresby on Tuesday, Mr O'Neill said it was for all citizens to respect that decision.
"I will respect the decisions of the Police Commissioner in the handling of any investigation," he said.
"All I have sought, as I am entitled to as is the right of any citizen, is to have an unbiased independent police investigations into any allegation.
"I have a duty to not allow bad precedent to be set for the future - by allowing a sitting Prime Minister to be arrested without clear and unbiased evidence of any wrongdoing."
Mr O'Neill was issued with an arrest warrant after the country's anti-corruption agency Taskforce Sweep accused him of authorising fraudulent government payments to a local law firm, Paraka Lawyers.
The recently-appointed acting police commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has not indicated whether he will arrest the man who gave him the job less than two weeks ago.
Mr O'Neill says he has told police he is ready to assist with proper and lawful police inquiries.
"This is the same approach adopted by leaders in our partner countries when they have been confronted by allegations," he said.
Mr O'Neill is continuing to deny any wrongdoing over the letter authorising payments, which he says is a forgery.
"I want to assure you without any qualification, that the letter did not originate from my office," he said.
The recently-sacked Police Prosecutor Thomas Eluh says he believes the evidence shows Mr O'Neill has a case to answer before the courts.
"The evidence is very overwhelming, it's very, very strong," he said.
"On the face of it, there is prima facie evidence for the prime minister and anyone else who is involved in this to come forward and be answerable to the law."

'Sad moment in our history'

Mr O'Neill has also criticised the former chairman of the now-disbanded Taskforce Sweep, Sam Koim, for speaking to foreign media.
Mr Koim last week told the ABC's 730 Australia should be keeping a close eye on any investigation as a large amount of its taxpayers' money has been used to develop Papua New Guinea.
Mr O'Neill says involving Australian aid in the discussion is "almost beyond belief".
"While never taken seriously, his demands would have caused hardship to small business and undermined medical and health programs in our nation," he said.
"The politicians and small group of police who colluded in this sad moment in our history should hang their heads in shame.
"They have put greed and ambition ahead of decency and fairness, and they have caused unnecessary tension within our community."