17 Jul 2014

Contempt file on PNG police chief

7:34 pm on 17 July 2014

Police fraud squad officers in Papua New Guinea have filed a contempt proceeding against their commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, for refusing to enforce an arrest warrant on the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.

A warrant was issued last month after an investigation by the anti-corruption unit, Taskforce Sweep, alleged that Mr O'Neill had authorised illegal payments of 29 million US dollars to the Paul Paraka law firm.

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki Photo: RNZI

The Post Courier reports the director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Mathew Damaru, filed the proceedings on the grounds that Mr Vaki had intentionally interfered with and failed to allow fraud officers to execute the warrant.

The matter is expected to be heard by the National Court later this week.