The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has ruled that the Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has no power to direct or control his officers from executing the warrant of arrest against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
The ruling comes amid a raft of questions arising from the allegedly illegal multi-million dollar payments to a firm, Paraka Lawyers, which led to an arrest warrant being issued against Mr O'Neill.
The Post Courier reports that the court found that the warrant at the centre of the case is an order of the District Court and that it must be obeyed by those persons to whom it is directed.
It went on to say the warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate in June was an order of the District Court and the Commissioner therefore has no power to direct or control Chief Inspector Timothy Gitua as to how and when he should execute it.
Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki Photo: RNZI