SAM BASIL REFUTED ONEILL's CLAIMS

Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, said he did NOT collaborate with former Chairman of Task Force Sweep, Sam Koim, to have Prime Minister Peter O'Neill arrested over the Paul Paraka Lawyers payment.

Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, yesterday said he will ask police to investigate both men.

Mr O'Neill said both have been meeting secretly, and compromised the Office of Task Force Sweep.

But Sam Basil told a news conference soon after he returned from his Bulolo district today, he had several meetings with Mr Koim during his capacity as the Minister for National Planning in 2011 and 2012.

Sam Basil said he had nothing to hide over the allegations made and confirm that he had, had several meetings on occasions with Sam Koim during his capacity as the minister for National Planning in 2011 and 2012 as he was instrumental in the setting up of Task Force Sweep at that time.

Basil further said he does not see any impropriety in these meetings and question how those meetings would influence Task Force Sweep independent investigations.

Basil meantime said if the prime minister wants to call for an investigation, then he is willing to face the police fraud squad and be answerable to them, and has challenged Prime Minister to sur

render himself to police fraud squad for questioning as well.

The prime Minister in his statement yesterday also alleges that Sam Koim has openly discussed matters under investigations with his associates and people heavily linked to certain political figures in the country, as a result Sam Koim has heavily compromised his position and the integrity of the Task force Sweep.

ONeill adds It is very clear that the Warrant of Arrest issued for his Arrest was a “Major Political Plot”, by self serving people to bring down the Government for their own greed.

Sam Koim when asked for his comments, he briefly said the statement by the prime minister is a very serious allegations and highly defamatory.