Pala’s charges dismissed

By DEMAS TIEN
THE Committal Court in Waigani has dismissed criminal proceedings against Attorney-General and Justice Minister Ano Pala following an application from his lawyer Ralph Saulep.
The application was based on a Supreme Court ruling handed down last month which quashed a warrant of arrest against Pala.
Pala was charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Magistrate John Kaumi said the Supreme Court decision on July 21 was clear and unambiguous and must be implemented.
Kaumi ordered that the criminal proceedings against Pala be dismissed and his bail of K6,000 be refunded.
The Supreme Court panel comprising Justice Ellenas Batari, Justice Don Sawong and Justice Terence Higgins ruled that the warrant of arrest obtained by the police on July 11, 2014, which the charges against Pala emanated from, was void and of no effect. The court ordered that the proceedings emanating from that warrant of arrest be quashed.
Saulep moved an application in the committal court yesterday to dismiss the criminal proceedings.
He said he had to make the formal application to dismiss the case because the committal court had a separate jurisdiction.
The charges were in relation to Pala’s alleged conduct in instructing the Solicitor-General to file an application to join the State as a third plaintiff in a national court proceeding filed by Finance Minister James Marape and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill regarding the taxation of legal bills to a local law firm.
Pala said outside court that the decision “is a triumph of the rule of law and a triumph for the independence of the judiciary”.
“I thank God for our judicial system, which despite many difficulties and challenges, continues to demonstrate its maturity and vibrancy,” he said.