Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill has denied in the strongest possible terms, an allegation leveled against him relating to the Paraka Lawyers payments.
In a statement just released, he said the warrant of arrest issued last Thursday, will be fully tested in court.
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โThere was a warrant of arrest issued last Thursday, which will be fully tested in court. I deny in the strongest terms, the allegations contained in it.
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โThey are again, basing the allegations on correspondence purportedly from the office of the prime minister.
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โThe Anti-Corruption Task Force Sweep has conducted a thorough investigation, and made its findings known, clearing me,โ Mr OโNeill said.
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He said it was very disturbing that certain individuals want to create instability by arresting a sitting prime minister based on an allegation that has not been proven, or are before the courts.
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โThere are a number of proceedings on foot, relating to the payments to Paraka Lawyers. This includes a proceeding instituted by the Finance Minister, James Marape, to determine the legality or otherwise, of the payments to the law firm.
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โWe should allow these proceedings to be completed, and their findings made known,โ he said.
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โParaka Lawyers were engaged by the previous government in 2002. When the payments were made by the Finance Department in 2011 and 2012 without our knowledge, I ordered an investigation to establish if these payments were legal and proper,โ Mr OโNeill insisted. โYet I now face an allegation of improperly directing payments for the benefit of Paraka Lawyers. I reject this, and will defend this strenuously.โ
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