Prime Minister Peter O'neill to appeal National Court's decision
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| Prime Minister Peter O'neill to appeal courts ruling. |
The National
Court made a ruling yesterday against an application the Prime Minister to stay
the warrant of arrest on him in relation to the Paraka legal bills..
"Because
of the issues of the legality of the bills are very important that will
determine which bills are fraudulent and which bills are legally earned by the
law firm."
"We are
putting in an appeal to the Supreme court, because the taxation, which means
the verification of the bills is very important because as I have said we have
just found out that there are court orders against the State that we have to
pay some of these bills." Mr O’Neill said.
"It may
come to a situation where the bills were legally earned than you destroy the
entire nation for the sake of political ambition of one or two. Let us get to
the bottom of it and the truth will come out to set us all free."
"The
decision is very clear that our application to make sure that we find whether
the legal fees we paid to Paraka lawyers were legal or not, those issue were
not dealt with in the substantive matter but the judge found it necessary for
him to make a decision on that and that is the taxation of the bills."
"We feel
that there needs to be more detail examination of that because we have only
found out that there has been some court orders in respect to the legality of
those bills which were deemed legal for the State to pay Paraka lawyers."
The Prime
Minister said that the National Court decision yesterday stated clearly that
the Police Commissioner under the constitution has the power to charge,
prosecute and withdraw charges based on credible independent evidence.
"Now
that the court has made its judgment, it is for all citizens to respect that
decision. I will respect the decisions of the Police Commissioner in handling
of any investigation. All I have sought, as I am entitled to as is the right of
any citizen, is to have an unbiased independent police investigation into any
allegation."
"Two
weeks ago when confronted with a highly suspicious warrant, I exercised my
legal right to stay this proceeding. This was to allow time to get to the
bottom of all the collusion that we knew were involved."
Mr O’Neill
said deferring to the judgment of the court was the responsible path for any
sitting Prime Minister to take.
"I have
stated to police that I am ready to assist with proper and lawful police
inquiries."
PNG Today/Post Courier
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