Baki challenges decision on PM’s arrest warrant

POLICE Commissioner Gari Baki is challenging a National Court decision which refused to set aside an arrest warrant issued for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Counsel Charlie Wara filed the appeal on Friday but told the Supreme Court yesterday that he had yet to serve it on the other parties – Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim, O’Neill and the State.
Baki’s grounds are similar to those made by O’Neill in his application , that Justice Colin Makail erred in law when he ruled that the court’s decision to issue the warrant could not be reviewed.
The warrant, which was issued to the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate’s deputy director in June 2012, relates to claims of official corruption against O’Neill and involves Paraka Lawyers.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia ordered both appeals to return to court on Monday for directions.
In handing down the judgment on Aug 8, Makail described O’Neill’s appeal against Eliakim’s decision as an abuse of process as a civil court could not be used to stop a criminal processes.
Baki was aggrieved by Makail’s decision and appealed to the Supreme Court.