A warrant for the arrest of former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has been issued on the grounds of “official corruption”, the country’s police force says.
The arrest warrant was announced on Tuesday in a statement by the country’s acting police Commissioner David Manning.
“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.
“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 statement read.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison gives Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill a Wallabies jersey in 2018. Source: AAP
“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.”
Mr O’Neill refused to co-operate with police when he was located at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby this morning.
“The warrant was obtained upon the weight of the evidence brought forward by the investigators,” acting Commissioner Manning said.
“Now my appeal … to Mr O’Neill is to avail himself to investigators and allow due process to be completed.”
Earlier, he said the arrest warrant was granted late last week in the Waigani District Court.
A separate arrest warrant was issued for Mr O’Neill in 2014 but was thrown out by the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court in 2017 after a lengthy legal battle.
