Tiffany Twivey

Before a scheduled media conference today, Namah was served the documents by Twivey Lawyers at his home in Port Moresby.

Namah said he will challenge the proceeding saying there is no case against him.

Just minutes after being served, Namah said the contempt proceeding was a delay tactic to deviate, deflect and downplay the main issue which were the alleged corrupt allegations against the Prime Minister.

She made these statements after her case at the Waigani National Court got discharged on Monday.

A week-long trial against Twivey was to commence on Monday, however that did not eventuate after the office of the public prosecutor filed a document called a nolle prosequi, withdrawing the information and charge against her.

She was arrested and charged for perverting the course of justice on April 11, 2016.

This comes after a Public prosecutor presented a notice of withdrawal on the charge that was laid against her.

The notice of nolle prosequi, dated June 19, was presented in court this afternoon before trial judge and Deputy Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika.

This now means that the trial will not go ahead at this stage. The court ordered a refund of her bail of K1000 and discharged the allegations against her.

Twivey was to stand trial on one count of perverting the course of justice in 2015. She was arrested and charged on April 11, 2016.

Twivey’s lawyer appeared before Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika on Monday, where her District Court bail conditions were converted to National Court bail conditions. She remains on an extended bail of K1,000.

The State and her lawyers were also told to file pre-trial review statements before a trial date can be set. The matter returns to court on May 1.

On March 9, Twivey was committed to stand trial in the Waigani National Court to answer to allegations of perverting the course of justice in 2015.

Magistrate John Kaumi, of the Waigani Committal Court, on Thursday ordered the committal of the case after she chose to exercise her right and remain silent in response to the allegations against her in the lower court.

She is expected to appear for listing at the National Court on March 20. She is on an extended bail of K1000.

She was charged on April 11, 2016, with one count of perverting the course of justice.

The Ombudsman Commission moved its application seeking interim orders on Monday before a three-man Supreme Court bench.

Counsel to the Ombudsman, Dr Vergil Narokobi, said section 19(4) of the Supreme Court rules gives the Supreme Court the jurisdiction, or powers, to grant interim relief for such application brought under section 19 of the constitition.

He said under section 19 of the Supreme Court rules, the court can declare a proposed law to be unconstitutional.

The referral of Tiffany Twivey and Sam Bonner was made by Justice Nicholas Kirriwom on August 28 before the open Court while presiding as a single Supreme Court Judge.

In Justice Kirriwom’s ruling then, he said Twivey and Bonner “could be guilty of collusion in perverting the course of justice where they filed applications in the District Court and signed consent judgment setting aside the warrant of arrest of Dairi Vele without notifying Detective Chief Inspector Gitua who was the complaint.”