31 Jul 2014

Transparency PNG says upholding rule of law critical

1:46 pm on 31 July 2014

Transparency International says the rule of law must be upheld in Papua New Guinea where a corruption case continues to cause uncertainty over the Prime Minister's office.

A series of legal cases remain pending in relation to allegations that the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill approved illegal state payments of about 30 million US dollars to a law firm.

With an arrest warrant for Mr O'Neill yet to be enacted since mid-June, TI's PNG chapter says resolution of the case is critical for PNG's future governance and its international relations.

TI's Lawrence Stephens identifies the country's major problem as a failure of official organisations to respond to evidence of corruption.

Mr Stephens says there is a perception that individual office holders see themselves as above the law.

He says this is due to efforts to suppress results of inquiries, sack officials with unsubstantiated claims of political collusions, refusal to answer legitimate questions and delaying of legal procedures.