Pala welcomes Supreme Court decision

ATTORNEY-General Ano Pala has welcomed a Supreme Court decision which quashed a warrant of arrest issued against him in 2014.
“I am truly humbled by this decision. This decision is a victory, not just for justice and rule of law but also for the silent majority of the people of Papua New Guinea,” Pala said in a statement yesterday.
“Many times we hear of abuse of police powers around the country upon those unable to defend themselves,” Pala said.
Pala said the court had stated clearly that the power to obtain and arrest a person was not a simple matter or a simple power but a serious power with serious consequences.
He said a warrant of arrest, being a court order, was a serious matter.
He said the police must exercise the powers of arrest with due care and diligence in order to uphold the rule of law.
“When these powers are misapplied or abused, we are all vulnerable and the rule of law itself will be eroded,” Pala said.
“Unfortunately, it’s only a few members in the force who are bringing a bad name and reputation to our hardworking police.”
He said to remain innocent until proven guilty was a cornerstone legal tenet of our system of justice.
“I thank the Supreme Court for ensuring the continued survival of that cornerstone principle of criminal justice in PNG. To the people of Papua New Guinea, let me assure you that despite what I have endured over the past two years, my job as attorney-general and minister for justice is to vigorously support the work of the police force so that they may succeed in performing their constitutional duties independently, with fairness and without fear or favour.”
Pala called on the police commissioner to reinstill discipline and return the force to what it was used to be.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the Government would go step by step and prove all allegations against him wrong.
“The UBS which is one of the allegations against me, the day before the Supreme Court threw the ombudsman’s case out.
“Prior to that, the case taken up by Don Polye was thrown out, saying the Government has a right to conduct its business.
“The generators for two cities Lae and Port Moresby. We use government processes, we budgeted and go out and buy generators.
“Those are brand new generators, they are not second hand. We will go step by step and prove that all these allegations are politically motivated, it will all be thrown out.
“Let us allow the judiciary to do its work.”