Lawyer and court official charged for forgery

YESTERDAY members of the Special Investigation Team under the National Fraud & Anti-Corruption Directorate laid formal charges against a lawyer representing the Member for Ialibu-Pangia Open Hon. Peter O’Neill including a Court official with the Waigani District Court.

George Lau, principal lawyer of Niuage Lawyers, 40 years old from Kaipere village, Laiagam District of Enga Province and Waigani Court Registry Clerk Christine Moiyang were both arrested and charged for the following offences:

1. Attempting to pervert justice under Section 136 of the Criminal Code Act, Chapter 262;
2. Forgery under Section 462 of the Criminal Code Act, Chapter 262; and
3. Uttering under Section 463 of the Criminal Code Act, Chapter 263.

Mrs Moiyang was formally charged on Monday 11th November 2019 and Mr Lau was arrested and charged yesterday afternoon.

Following the ruling of the National Court to dismiss Mr O’Neill’s judicial review application to challenge the District Court’s decision to grant Police a warrant of arrest against him, police carried out investigations into allegations Mr O’Neill relied on a fake warrant of arrest to obtain a stay against police effecting his arrest.

Relying on findings of those investigations Police formed the view there was reasonable grounds to believe both accused did collude to forge court documents to mislead the Court to grant a stay order.

Based on these findings police arrested and formally charged Mr Lau and Mrs Moiyang. Following the charges both were granted police bail and ordered to appear before the District Court.

I’m aware there has been numerous allegations and counter allegations in both mainstream media as well as the social media concerning the warrant of arrest issued against Mr O’Neill.

Given the sensitivity of this issue and that it concerns National Members of Parliament I ask the media to do their job professionally and diligently without fear or favour. It is important they report on the facts and cross check any purported facts offered to them.

I’m aware of a press statement issued by the Honourable Member for Ialibu-Pangia Peter O’Neill, claiming a criminal complaint has been lodged against Police Minister Hon. Byran Kramer for forging and falsifying a defective arrest warrant against him.

Mr O’Neill claims that the complaint made by his lawyer Mr George Lau with Metropolitan Superintendent yesterday. However, I have since been briefed that the complaint was in fact lodged today. I have also been informed that it was assessed as a counter-complaint intended to derail an on-going investigation and his arrest after the fact and as such the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent will be responding to him accordingly.

I can confirm no such complaint was filed with the Metropolitan Superintendent yesterday as purported by a press release issued by Mr O’Neill.

Furthermore, the allegations that police relied on a warrant of arrest forged by Minister of Police is false and highly derogatory.

Under my tenure as acting Commissioner of Police investigations have been conducted professionally and diligently without fear or favour.

Any formal complained filed with police will be considered based on sufficient evidence and not false and misleading statements issues in a press statement.

On other issues:

• The Office of the Commissioner has received a formal complaint from his honour Chief Justice Gibbs Salika yesterday (Tuesday 12th November) which was cc’ed to the Chief Ombudsman of the Ombudsman Commission. The matter has been referred to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner Crimes, Assistant Commissioner Hodges Ette where an officer will be identified and tasked with carrying out the initial enquiries into the offence(s) alleged to have been committed by Honourable Bryan Kramer.

• In regards to alleged offences committed by national leaders it is directed to all members of the RPNGC that such complaints will be forwarded to the Office of the Commissioner immediately. There will be no deviation from this directive.