Lawyer representing Prime Minister Peter O’Neill successfully moved an adjournment to the ‘slip rule’ proceeding to a later date.
The three-man Supreme Court bench comprising of Derek Hartshorn, Collin Makail and Don Sawong this morning in Port Moresby adjourned the case to next week Thursday (May 5).
The Court hearing was supposed to hear the ‘slip rule’ application alleging that the presiding judges made a “misapprehension of law” when making their ruling on April 5, 2016.
The Court dismissed an appeal by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister James Marape, preventing police from executing an outstanding warrant of arrest for both men.
This case relates to alleged fraudulent payment to Paul Paraka Lawyers of legal bills for representing the State in Court proceedings.
PM’s lawyer, Tiffany Twivey asked the Court for adjournment on the grounds that she filed another affidavit yesterday, and served the copies to other parties in the last 24 hours, which is not enough time for them to assist the Court if the hearing goes ahead today.
The respondent in this matter is Prime Minister Peter O’Neill as the first respondent, Attorney General Ano Pala as the second respondent, Paul Paraka trading Paraka Lawyers as third defendant, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as fourth respondent, The Independent State of PNG as fifth respondent, Director of Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Mathew Damaru as sixth respondent, Director of Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Timothy Gitua as seventh respondent.
Finance Minister James Marape is the appellant.