A late night granting of bail to lawyer Paul Paraka has left police in Port Moresby baffled, after initially refusing bail.
National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent, Andy Bawa told NBC News, Paraka was denied bail late yesterday, after he was officially charged at the Boroko Police Station. However, law firm Kombri and Associate Lawyers say, they were able to get the Waigani Committal Court to grant a 50-thousand-Kina bail to Paraka. He appeared before the Committal Court this morning with his lawyer, and was formally read his charges. Paraka is being charged with 18 counts relating to the payment of over 71-million-Kina, by the Finance Department allegedly for legal services rendered to the State. Mr. Paraka is being charged with 5 Counts of Conspiracy to Defraud, 9 Counts of Stealing by False Pretence, 2 Counts of Money Laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act and 2 Counts of dishonestly applying and misappropriation. These charges relate to the payments totalling 71.8-million-Kina made to his law firm between 2011 and 2012. This is alleged to be made, despite two Supreme Court orders preventing such. Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned the case to December 13 for further mention. Mr Paraka is required to stay within his residences, and not travel during this period. A verbal application by Paraka to leave the country to seek medical treatment overseas for his throat infection was also made. However, the court urged him to make this application at the National Court. Comments are closed.
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