Allegations against Paraka dismissed

Main Stories

By KARO JESSE
A COURT has dismissed the 22 allegations against a lawyer facing accusation that he had obtained K72.8 million for legal bills from the Government.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Ernest Wilmot yesterday ruled that the 22 allegations made against lawyer Paul Paraka were not supported by evidence.
The allegations included three counts of money laundering, three counts of misappropriation, 10 counts of conspiracy to defraud and six counts false pretences.
Magistrate Wilmot said the case was an abuse of court process by the State and its authorities who failed to provide evidence and proof of any illegal transaction.
The court found that some of the State’s witnesses had died and others had left the public service, making it hard to use their affidavit in a trial.
Paraka was charged on Oct 23, 2013, over allegations that he was unlawfully paid for legal bills by the State.
The Supreme Court later issued a stay order to stop the payments.
The court upheld submissions by Paraka that the allegations were false and did not implicate criminal offences.
The court also took in to account that the matter had taken six years.
Outside court, Paraka said everyone implicated in the case, including former finance minister James Marape and former prime minister Peter O’Neill, were also cleared by the court.

12 comments

  • The state loses a lot of prominent cases that should have indicted and landed such fraudsters in jail but because of incompetent and under-performing individuals (police and state lawyers) doing a not good enough job such cases are dismissed. How difficult is it to compliment your findings with evidence – isn’t that an important part of conducting investigations?

    On the other hand – the lawyers standing in for the accused are doing a better job than those representing the state – I’d be ashamed if I’m representing the state because I should have done a better job then those representing the accused because the state would have provided me with all the resources I need to complete the investigation to get an indictment.

    Come on state team – its high time some of you pull up your socks and do a better job and in doing so bring back trust and confidence in the state… haven’t we leant from past instances of losing cases – its a shame the state continue to lose such cases.

  • Nature will take its course since the legal system is weak. Lack of evidence shows that our offices responsible are not performing their duties.
    Silent majorities are dying from basic services where as few educated elites are bending the laws to enrich themselves.
    K72.8 million for legal services is unbelievable…
    Whats the justification for such payment??
    “Nature stap na umi stap” No one can hide from the nature, it deals with things in its own ways..

  • How is state lawyers handle such cases? THEY SHOULD WELL EQUIPPED THAN PRIVATE LAW FIRMS. those money dished out fraudulently should be spent on areas where it needs the most to serve the rural majority.

  • I believe responsible people are not doing their job because they are conscious of their safety including their families. Hence some state witness have died and others left position. there is no 100% guaranty of their safety. The government to seriously consider this before responsible people can complete their job.

  • Does the Judge know there are aeroplanes to provide transport for retired public servants to attend court?
    Does the Judge know he could use video link technology to hear evidence from the retired public servants?
    Who delayed hearing the case for six years?
    Most of the peasants in PNG thought Paraka would win from the moment the story was made public

  • People fear their lives to expose corruption, especially involving high profile people and cases involving huge amounts of money. Can the state provide financial incentives or risk allowances to support or motivate witnesses/people providing evidences or fighting against corruption? If state can’t do this then its no use wasting a lot of tax payer’s money fighting a lossing battle everytime.

  • Those who called sin righteous and righteousness sin shall not go unpunish. They will be doomed. Trouble won’t depart from their lives and family. Woe unto them for lying. Curse is upon them. God will judge you for stealing from the ordinary and hard working Papua New Guinean’s like me. We work hard for two weeks get paid and pay taxes to the country’s treasury. To see K72 million paid to a Law firm like that is a slep in my face and disgusting. IF THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY CANNOT JUDGE YOU. GOD WILL JUDGE WITH HIS DIVINE JUDGEMENT.

  • This one of high profile corruption cases not defended well by our police. PMJM this is injustice and the judgment is shallow. Please review this decision and justice (if any) must be served.

  • This is unbelievable and the state lawyers should be sack for this or there is bribery going on there so an independence investigator need to investigate this case again.
    If Paul Paraka happens to sue the lost of his business to the state it will in billions so make sure make this fellow feel guilty to some of this charges and how comes all 22 causes feel not guilty? MR PM,DUPTY PM and BK need to applied this case again with a new state solicitor to start this case again. This is tax payers money so you can not let it drop like this unless he feels guilty for some charges.
    This is not right MR Justice Minister?

Comments are closed.