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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/17/corruption-inquiry-recommends-case-against-png-prime-minister
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Corruption inquiry recommends case against PNG prime minister | Corruption inquiry recommends case against PNG prime minister |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A | A |
| Papua New Guinea corruption inquiry has recommended a case be launched | Papua New Guinea corruption inquiry has recommended a case be launched |
| against the country’s prime minister, Peter O’Neill, claiming new | against the country’s prime minister, Peter O’Neill, claiming new |
| evidence has emerged showing a “conspiratorial line” from O’Neill to a | evidence has emerged showing a “conspiratorial line” from O’Neill to a |
| lawyer, on the same day an arrest warrant for O’Neill was served. | lawyer, on the same day an arrest warrant for O’Neill was served. |
| The | The |
| warrant was served on O’Neill by assistant commissioner for police | warrant was served on O’Neill by assistant commissioner for police |
| (crimes) Thomas Eluh in relation to an alleged illegal payment of $30m | (crimes) Thomas Eluh in relation to an alleged illegal payment of $30m |
| by the government to a Port Moresby law firm, currently under investigation by the | |
| multi-agency corruption Taskforce Sweep. | |
| The prime minister arranged with police to come in for | The prime minister arranged with police to come in for |
| questioning on Wednesday, Guardian Australia was told by a source inside | questioning on Wednesday, Guardian Australia was told by a source inside |
| the O’Neill camp, but two policeman decided to announce their intention | the O’Neill camp, but two policeman decided to announce their intention |
| to arrest him on Monday afternoon. | to arrest him on Monday afternoon. |
| Lawyers for O’Neill immediately took legal action to halt the arrest warrant and stop any interrogation of the prime minister. | Lawyers for O’Neill immediately took legal action to halt the arrest warrant and stop any interrogation of the prime minister. |
| In the meantime, the country’s top police officer, commissioner Toami Kulunga - who the Post Courier reports issued the warrant - was on Friday convicted on charges of contempt and sentenced to seven months in prison. | In the meantime, the country’s top police officer, commissioner Toami Kulunga - who the Post Courier reports issued the warrant - was on Friday convicted on charges of contempt and sentenced to seven months in prison. |
| On Monday evening it emerged that a letter from the taskforce chief Sam Koim to the police commissioner, leaked to SBS News, | On Monday evening it emerged that a letter from the taskforce chief Sam Koim to the police commissioner, leaked to SBS News, |
| claimed new evidence has emerged - including a forensic analysis of a | claimed new evidence has emerged - including a forensic analysis of a |
| letter previously dismissed as a forgery by O’Neill - strengthening the | letter previously dismissed as a forgery by O’Neill - strengthening the |
| case against the prime minister. | case against the prime minister. |
| Koim | Koim |
| writes the taskforce has reached a “considered belief” that the prime | writes the taskforce has reached a “considered belief” that the prime |
| minister acted “dishonestly and corruptly” when he directed outstanding | minister acted “dishonestly and corruptly” when he directed outstanding |
| legal bills be paid in full to Paul Paraka Lawyers. | legal bills be paid in full to Paul Paraka Lawyers. |
| “A conspiratorial line between Mr Paul Paraka and PM O’Neill is also visible from our analysis,” wrote Koim. | “A conspiratorial line between Mr Paul Paraka and PM O’Neill is also visible from our analysis,” wrote Koim. |
| “Based | “Based |
| on our considered finding, there is more than sufficient evidence to | on our considered finding, there is more than sufficient evidence to |
| mount a case of misappropriation, conspiracy to defraud and official | mount a case of misappropriation, conspiracy to defraud and official |
| corruption against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.” | corruption against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.” |
| The lead lawyer from the firm in question, Paul Paraka, was charged with 22 fraud-related offences by the taskforce in October last year. His case was adjourned for four months in February. | The lead lawyer from the firm in question, Paul Paraka, was charged with 22 fraud-related offences by the taskforce in October last year. His case was adjourned for four months in February. |
| Key | Key |
| to the case against O’Neill is a letter, allegedly from the prime | to the case against O’Neill is a letter, allegedly from the prime |
| minister to senior ministers, which suggested O’Neill authorised the | minister to senior ministers, which suggested O’Neill authorised the |
| payments, but the prime minister dismissed it as a forgery. The | payments, but the prime minister dismissed it as a forgery. The |
| taskforce later said the letter did not appear to be legitimate. | taskforce later said the letter did not appear to be legitimate. |
| However Fairfax media claimed on Monday that forensic analysis conducted by a private Australian firm showed the signature on the letter is indeed O’Neill’s. | However Fairfax media claimed on Monday that forensic analysis conducted by a private Australian firm showed the signature on the letter is indeed O’Neill’s. |
| This | This |
| letter, as well another from O’Neill to senior ministers which Koim | letter, as well another from O’Neill to senior ministers which Koim |
| said confirmed the existence of the first, were included in Koim’s | said confirmed the existence of the first, were included in Koim’s |
| assessment. It also said former Treasurer Don Polye - who was sacked by | assessment. It also said former Treasurer Don Polye - who was sacked by |
| O’Neill in March for creating instability in the parliament - had | O’Neill in March for creating instability in the parliament - had |
| provided evidence. | provided evidence. |
| “Upon | “Upon |
| reassessing the case in light of the fresh evidence, we are of the | reassessing the case in light of the fresh evidence, we are of the |
| firmest believe that PM O’Neill’s denial of authoring and/or signing the | firmest believe that PM O’Neill’s denial of authoring and/or signing the |
| directive letter of 24th January 2012 for Paraka Lawyers payments can | directive letter of 24th January 2012 for Paraka Lawyers payments can |
| no longer hold water,” it said. | no longer hold water,” it said. |
| O’Neill continued to deny the letters came from him, telling SBS the allegations are politically motivated. | O’Neill continued to deny the letters came from him, telling SBS the allegations are politically motivated. |
| "(The opposition) are using any avenue possible to try and discredit government and find a way to get me arrested,” he said. | "(The opposition) are using any avenue possible to try and discredit government and find a way to get me arrested,” he said. |
| "We have strong confidence in the judiciary up here....the truth will come out." | "We have strong confidence in the judiciary up here....the truth will come out." |
| Guardian Australia understands O’Neill’s team completely dismisses the veracity of the forensic report. | Guardian Australia understands O’Neill’s team completely dismisses the veracity of the forensic report. |
| Previous | Previous |
| arrest warrants for O’Neill, Polye and as well as another senior | arrest warrants for O’Neill, Polye and as well as another senior |
| government ministers, in relation to the same investigation, were thrown out in January of this year. | government ministers, in relation to the same investigation, were thrown out in January of this year. |
| At | At |
| the time O’Neill said those warrants were the result of “rogue” police | the time O’Neill said those warrants were the result of “rogue” police |
| officers working at the behest of opposition leader Belden Namah. Namah denied the allegation. | officers working at the behest of opposition leader Belden Namah. Namah denied the allegation. |
| Principal | Principal |
| magistrate Lawrence Kangwia ruled the previous warrants were deemed | magistrate Lawrence Kangwia ruled the previous warrants were deemed |
| invalid because the legislation they were based upon was repealed in | invalid because the legislation they were based upon was repealed in |
| 2000. However, he said investigators could reapply for new ones and he | 2000. However, he said investigators could reapply for new ones and he |
| refused an application to dismiss the entire complaint against the men. | refused an application to dismiss the entire complaint against the men. |
| The | The |
| head of the taskforce, Sam Koim, distanced it from the previous arrest | head of the taskforce, Sam Koim, distanced it from the previous arrest |
| warrants at the time, and said they were a matter for police. The taskforce is investigating an alleged racket involving ministers, lawyers and financial institutions, Koim has said in the past. | warrants at the time, and said they were a matter for police. The taskforce is investigating an alleged racket involving ministers, lawyers and financial institutions, Koim has said in the past. |
| The taskforce has made more than 40 arrests since its inception in 2011, including of former MPs, ministers and businessmen. | The taskforce has made more than 40 arrests since its inception in 2011, including of former MPs, ministers and businessmen. |