O'Neill Welcomes Court Ruling

Former PNG Prime Minister and Ialibu Pangia MP Peter O'Neill has welcomed the today's court ruling.

''As our country know and our people know, and the court also appreciated that there was no personal benefit in this case on my part, but there is a suggestion by some of the witnesses that it was official corruption and misappropriation on unbudgeted items.

''But we have not presented our evidence in court which we will do so in the National Court, and we look forward to arguing this case in the court.

''This is a NEC decision, it was endorsed by the NEC,'' said ONeill.

Court has been adjourned to the 9th of December, 2020 for the defendant to exercise his right under section 96 of the district court to respond to the court’s ruling.

Mr. O’Neil remains innocent until proven guilty by the court.

Mr O'Neil was referred to the national court to stand trial on two charges of official corruption and misappropriation by the district committal court today.

Magistrate Tracy Ganai found sufficient evidence against Mr. O'Neil on charges of official corruption and misappropriation in the purchase of two Generators from the Israeli company LR Group.

The generators were purchased at a cost of K50 million in 2013 when he was then the Prime Minister.

Magistrate Ganai said there where sufficient evidence put forward by primary witnesses through the prosecutor.

However, the charges of a conspiracy were dropped by the court due to insufficient evidence.

NBC News / PNG Today

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