O’Neill order extended

AN interim stay order on a warrant of arrest issued for former prime minister Peter O’Neill, pictured, last Wednesday has been extended to Friday, as agreed to by lawyers of both parties yesterday.
Justice Nicholas Miviri extended the stay order following an agreement between Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa, his deputy Irene Mugugea, and Young and Williams lawyers Greg Sheppard and Phillip Tabuchi, who are representing O’Neill.
Tanuvasa and Mugugea appeared before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar, Acting Police Commissioner David Manning, investigating officer Senior Constable Kila Tali and the State.
The substantive hearing on a review of O’Neill’s arrest warrant will be held on Oct 31.
The warrant of arrest for O’Neill based on official corruption allegations was issued by the District Court in Waigani on Oct 16.
The stay was granted after Sheppard argued last Wednesday that his client would likely suffer “irreparable damages” if the arrest warrant was defective.
He submitted that the warrant of arrest was defective in the sense that it would pose an imminent threat to the constitutional right of his client, “particularly his freedom”.
Justice Miviri upon consideration granted the stay.