The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has acquitted the former head of the National Provident Fund, Jimmy Maladina, after the national Court found him guilty of misappropriating close to one million US dollars.
Mr Maladina was convicted in May last year and given a suspended sentence of eight years, with a two-year good behaviour bond.
The Supreme Court found that the judge, Sir Gibbs Salika, had made an error in his judgment.
Mr Maladina has told the Post Courier newspaper that many people did not want to listen but it has come out true to his word that he has held since day one when he was charged - that he was innocent of all the charges.
He says he only regrets that his reputation had suffered immensely.
Last year, Sir Gibbs said the conviction meant that Mr Maladina would never be able to practice law again, and would suffer in that he would have to find other ways to survive.
