O’Neill waits for police to provide evidence

IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill will have to wait for police to submit evidence on the fraud-related charges he is facing.
His lawyer Greg Sheppard did not object when police prosecutor Sergeant John Wamugl told Magistrate Tracey Ganaii that police would hand over their submission to him next week so that he could prepare a reply when the case returns on Nov 3.
O’Neil is charged with misappropriation of public funds and official corruption in relation to the purchase of two diesel generators from Israel in 2013.
It is alleged that on Dec 4, 2013, O’Neill, 55, of Kauwo village in Ialibu-Pangia, Southern Highlands, corruptly and unlawfully directed the procurement of K50 million from the Treasury Department to pay a company in Israel called LR Group Ltd for two diesel turbine generators.
Police allege that O’Neill wrote a letter on Dec 4, 2013, to acting Treasury secretary Dairi Vele, instructing him to identify the K50 million from the 2013 National Budget and have it transferred to the Bank of Papua New Guinea for the procurement and installation of the generators in Port Moresby and Lae.
It is alleged that the letter stated that PNG Power Ltd had been consulted and had agreed to the deal.
The case involved Opposition Leader Belden Namah who lodged a formal complaint against O’Neill in 2014.
Police allege that James Marape then the Finance Minister, issued an approval for PNG Power Ltd to enter the contract.