10 Dec 2014

PNG PM to challenge referral in court

11:54 am on 10 December 2014

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, will challenge in court a decision by the public prosecutor to refer him to a Leadership Tribunal over allegations of misconduct in office.

The referral relates to three allegations over the cabinet's decision to take out a state loan of US$1.1 billion obtained from the Swiss Bank, UBS, earlier this year.

The allegations centre on claims Mr O'Neill didn't follow the normal administrative process for securing and approving the loan.

The newspaper, The National, reports court summons showing that Mr O'Neill is seeking a declaration from the National Court that the Public Prosecutor was not entitled to refer the matter regarding the misconduct.