PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) — The previous prime minister of Papua New Guinea has been arrested and brought in for questioning over alleged misappropriation and corruption involving the acquisition of two mills from Israel.
Peter O’Neill was arrested by police at Jackson’s Worldwide Airport in Port Moresby on Saturday after flying again from Brisbane, Australia, the place he had been stranded due to COVID-19 lockdowns. He was later launched on bail and can spend two weeks in isolation at his residence because of the similar virus restrictions.
O’Neill led Papua New Guinea for seven years earlier than quitting in 2019 after quite a few resignations from his authorities.
Police mentioned the investigation entails the acquisition of the 2 energy mills from Israel for 50 million kina ($14.2 million) when O’Neill was main the nation.
In a press release quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corp., police official Hodges Ette alleged O’Neill directed funds for the acquisition of the mills with out approval of parliament and with out a tender course of. Ette mentioned police consider “there may be cheap proof of offenses of misappropriation, abuse of workplace and official corruption.”
Police tried to arrest O’Neill in October over a unique subject however they withdrew the cost when O’Neill challenged its validity in court docket.
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