Paraka faces trial in two weeks after bid to stay proceeding dismissed

LAWYER Paul Paraka’s application to stay the Government from proceeding with his indictment was dismissed by the National Court yesterday and he will face trial in two weeks.
Justice Teresa Berrigan dismissed the application and told Paraka to speak to his lawyer and ensure that he appears with him in the next two weeks.
“Lawyer representing you should be around with you throughout the duration of the trial,” she said.
She said Paraka would be tried on five counts of misappropriation.
Paraka submitted that his indictment was based on speculation.
He also said such was an abuse of the process of the court and he relied on section 37 (1) (3) of the Constitution.
The Government submitted that what Paraka was saying was premature and speculative and as such was an abuse of the court’s process.
Paraka’s charges relate to payments made to his law firm for legal services rendered to the Government from 2007 to 2013.
A total of 27 charges were laid against him by Task Force Sweep that included 17 counts of conspiracy to defraud, five counts of theft under false pretences and five counts of money laundering.
The 27 charges were later struck out by the Waigani district court in 2018 for abuse of process.
The public prosecutor then used his ex-officio powers for Paraka to stand trial on the charges of misappropriation after the district court’s decision.