Prime Minister Peter O'Neill files Contempt Proceedings against trio

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has filed contempt proceedings against three individuals cited for breaching Supreme Court orders and publicly discussing confidential police and court matters.

They are the Director of the National Fraud & Anti Corruption Directorate, Matthew Damaru, his deputy Timothy Gitua and Bryan Krammer.

The trio appeared on Monday at the Supreme Court for mention before the case was adjourned to August 13 for further directions.

They are alleged to have individually or collectively colluded and published information that's sub judicial or yet to go before the court thereby attempting to influence outcome of the court and police investigation.

The publication was recently made following an arrest warrant obtained for Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele.

Krammer responded on Facebook saying what was posted is based on his own investigation following remarks by Police Commissioner Gari Baki for an internal investigation into the conduct of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate after complaints, the office is heavily politicized.

The publication by Krammer were seen as direct breaches of the court rules as well as certain orders made by the Supreme Court on October 

23rd, 2014.

Court papers filed last week Tuesday by lawyers representing the prime minister alleges that Damaru and Gitua supplied confidential police and court information deemed sub judicial to Krammer who then published on social media where merits of cases before the courts as well as police were discussed.

Investigation into the purchase of PNG Power twin turbine generators and obtaining an arrest warrant for the Treasury Secretary was thought to have portrayed actions of the Prime Minister as insulting which also breaches last Octobers orders.

The orders last year were issued by the high court after an appeal in relation to taxation matters of legal bills payments made to Paul Paraka Lawyers.

Blanket orders were issued for police not to arrest Prime Minister Peter O'Neill as well as Finance Minister James Marape until issues before the court were cleared.

Damaru and Gitua have joined proceedings for the injunctive orders to be lifted as investigation into the purchase of the twin turbine generators is understood to be continuing.

In related matters today (5/8/15) Justice Nicholas Kiriwom set September

2nd for the Paraka Taxation appeal by Marape and consolidated matters to be heard.

Taxation is simply verifying payments made to check whether its proper or not. An audit into the funds totaling K72.8 million paid by the State to Paul Paraka Lawyers in 2011 has been suggested.

NBC/PNG Today