Warrant of arrest issued for former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill

A WARRANT of arrest was issued by the Waigani District Court last Friday for former Prime Minister and Member for Ialibu/Pangia Peter O’Neill for official corruption.

Facebook/Royal PNG Police a/PC D.Manning

Whilst I cannot reveal any specific details at this point in time due to the sensitivity of the investigations I can confirm that police investigators in an ongoing investigation applied to the district court for the arrest warrant for Mr O’Neill which was granted last Friday.

 The warrant was obtained upon the weight of the evidence brought forward by the investigators.

The warrant of arrest is now in the process of being served on Mr O’Neill. He will be processed by police after which he has the right to bail and defend himself in court. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law so Mr O’Neill’s constitutional rights are being respected in that regard.

PIC: Parliament biopage/ PETER Oneill

Investigations into this particular case involving the former prime minister has been ongoing and the weight of the evidence that came to light before the police detectives necessitated an application to be made to the courts for a warrant of arrest.

We have made it very clear when we came into office that we will look into all outstanding criminal cases of national significance including police shootings as well as high level corruption cases.

Rest assured that under my leadership I will not allow police investigations to be politicised nor allow for people with vested interests to use the police for personal vendetta or a witch-hunt. 

Investigations that can stand-up to rigorous scrutiny and checks and balances will be allowed to progress into the arrest stage. Under my leadership I will not allow some of the reckless behaviours of the past where arrests were made without credible evidence.

All other outstanding cases are also being pursued with this in mind and details will be made known to the public going forward as and when warranted.

By way of update, as of this morning Mr O’Neill was located at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby. The Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations Mr Donald Yamasombi has made contact with Mr O’Neill and has requested directly to him that he accompanied him to Boroko Police Station to be processed. As we speak he has refused to cooperate with Police thus far.

Now my appeal as the Acting Commissioner of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to Mr O’Neill is for him to avail himself to investigators and allow due process to be completed.

Thank you.

David Manning, MBE, DPS, QPM

Acting Commissioner of Police

Tuesday 15th October 2019

Source: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Facebook page

'The wheels of justice have turned, it must continue to turn.' Sam Koim (28/09/2015)

Our team was disbanded, we went to court.

Our officers were terminated, we went to court.

Our funding was withheld, and still is to this day.

Our lawyers were not paid, and still to this day.

In court, they legitimised their positioning on both sides of the bar table and singing the same tune.

We were denied at first, we made it through later.

Yet, instead of fighting the real issues, they still want us out.

We were branded rogue and corrupt; the Courts removed the tag on us and placed it on those who branded us. That the court did –on a number of occasions.

We have fought this, not only on the legal front, but, tyranny and arbitrariness, threats and intimidation, ostracism and pillory, scarcity and defunding.

We have seen lawyers and spin doctors’ alike taking the fight out of the court room and onto the streets, inviting us for a street fight. We disobliged.

Today, we are back in court to seek the Court’s intervention to remove the persona non gratia tag placed on our lawyers. It is beyond believe that in democratic country where the rule of law should be supreme, such is happening.

We wonder how long we will have to go through the quagmire of unending legal battles. They want this fight to have a natural death by stifling us and subjecting us to maintain battles on many fronts. Mind you, we would have relented if it was a personal one. Yes, we may not have the power to compete on these many fronts but the wishes and prayers of our common suffering people are with us. A fair and independent judiciary is the anchor of our hope. The Courts have, on many occasions, vindicated us of our stand for public interest.

The wheels of justice have turned, it must continue to turn.

Those who unjustly exert interference to the turning wheel do not escape judgement. We have and will continue to witness, as long as the wheels continue to turn.

Peter O'Neill Pledged To Fight To The Last Breath - And he Is Fighting The Courts

This was a commentary from June 2014 when Peter O'Neill's integrity as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea was tested. Anti corruption task force's decision to arrest him and his reactions would go down in history. I was glad to have recorded the political events of June 2014. 

Here is a brief of what happened four weeks into the saga: the issuing of warrant of arrest, PO's evading the arrest, appointment of new police commissioner, actions of the PC and reactions from other national leaders.

CHRISTIAN LEADERS: We heard leaders from main-line churches appealing for O’Neill to submit to police request. Thank God and pioneer missionaries, PNG are blessed with established churches (Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic, SDA) with strong leaders who have wisdom to correct and suggest to political leaders what to do. Listen to words of men of God. Make no mistake, these leaders speak with wisdom. They represent mass of PNG’s population.

POLICE: Court has made it clear that policemen who are at the forefront of this political turmoil (caused by PM) are not rogue officers. Their reputations, experiences and dedication to the force are exemplary. Their commitment to stand firm at this time is a testament to their courage and determination. These men are trained (at police institution/s) to be strong, commissioned (on oath) to serve and moulded (by experience) to be fearless. They are discipline officers, for goodness sake, trust them to do the right thing.

Police hierarchy had been thrown in disarray with by one man, Peter O’Neill. Is it too late for Vaki to fix this vital institution? He was defeated at District Court but not late for Vaki to make the right call. Both National and District Courts have given Geoffrey Vaki’s no option but to arrest O’Neill. He MUST effect the WoA in haste to save face.

Vaki is rendered to nothing but USELESS in Peter O’Neill’s eyes if not for the policemen protecting the PM. Section of police who took Vaki’s commands can be seen to be the last baton of hope to remain police commissioner. We also see Police Association giving strong signal to politicians (like PM and Housing Minister) who called police ‘rogue cops’ to shut up. 

There are strong views within the Constabulary for Vaki to perform his constitutional duties without siding with Peter O’Neill. This was evident from reports in mainstream media and social network.

Mr Geoffrey Vaki can restore pride and comradeship in police force by taking a step out of PO’s shadow and listen to what courts, church leaders, senior citizens, students and public are saying about PO’s actions.

There needs to be neutral and impartial stand taken by Vaki now. This will not only save his reputation, but also protect the office of the Police Commissioner.

WARNING: 3 things the Police Commissioner, Geoffrey Vaki, should take note:

1. Task Force Sweep was reinstated. The investigation, its finding (Sam Koim and Miviri’s affidavits) and Warrant of Arrest of Peter O’Neill are valid and current. He does not have an option. He must commission the right officers to arrest and question Peter O’Neill.

2. Police have what’s called the ‘Institution Muscle’. When commenting on political plots and strategies to protect one man the Police Association general secretary used the word ‘muscle’ – such word must not be taken lightly by the Police Commissioner, especially when it comes from the Police Association, made by senior police representative. 

Here, he is implying that the police commissioner has to do what is best to protect the integrity of the Police Force. Anything seems contrary can result in the police union taking a tough stand against it.

3. Politicians do flip sides on impulse. PO said he will ‘fight to the last breath’. He was on the back foot again the other day withdrawing all court proceedings. Vaki, has to put his thinking hat on. He is a learnt person. He will not want to be PO’s toilet tissue (to wipe his stinky poo and flush it down the toilet).

PO had his chance to fight the WoA. He has made his case. He waved his rights about. He chose Waigani to be his battle field and lost (and surrendered). All along he created factions within the police, he disbanded TSF, he dismissed Sam Koim, he (through Vaki) suspended Lawyer Miviri and senior officers Eluh and Kauba.

Vaki’s Right Call: Now it is time to move the battle field to Konedobu. Vaki must lift the suspension on Miviri, Kauba and Eluh. Let these men, including Koim and TFS, carry on from where they left: Arrest Peter O’Neill and bring him in for questioning. LET THE LAW TAKE ITS COURSE

Quotations From Senior Citizens About Peter Oneill

1. HEAD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH 

"If the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill had submitted to the rule of law, his innocence would have been proven three weeks ago. But instead he had engaged his lawyers – to stay the warrant of arrest,’’[Archbishop Clyde Igara]

2. POLICE ASSOCIATION GENERAL SECRETARY

"It is politicians that have created this unnecessary misdemeanour. They are cherry pickers who are here today and gone tomorrow. The police force is here to stay and police officers will give a lifetime upholding the rule of law and the constitution." [Clemence Kanau]

3. POLICE ASSOCIATION GENERAL SECRETARY 

"He should shut his mouth and swallow his temporary pride," Mr Kanau said of Mr Isikiel when he referred to officers investigating O’Neill as ‘rogue cops’.

4. SACKED ATTORNEY GENERAL 

Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki now has no legal discretion but to arrest Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. [Kerenga Kua]

5. NATIONAL COURT JUDGE 

"I find this submission to be speculative and without proper evidentiary basis,” Judge Ere Kariko said when refusing submissions by the prime minister’s lawyer regarding a "rift" in the ranks of the police force.

6. CHIEF MAGISTRATE - DISTRICT COURT 

"Courts can only interfere when there is a clear case of abuse," [Nerrie Eliakim explanation on Vaki’s application to discontinue warrant of arrest on Peter O’Neill]

7. CHAIRMAN – TASK FORCE SWEEP "When our leaders raised wild allegations and branded us as politically compromised, I did not respond because that would be seen as self preservation. I waited for the competent authority to vindicate us which the court had done." [Sam Koim ]