Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
A former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister says the integrity of the Office of Prime Minister has been undermined by the actions of incumbent, Peter O'Neill.
Sir Mekere Morauta said the Office of the Prime Minister was not a personal possession.
He said it was there to serve the people.
Sir Mekere said in particular its power should not be used as a weapon to protect the incumbent from due process, or to cause due process to be thwarted.
His comments came after the suspension of senior members of the anti-corruption unit involved in the two-year-long corruption investigation related to Mr O'Neill.
Earlier the attorney general, a Supreme Court judge and the prime minister's lawyer had all been arrested.
Sir Mekere said authorities had to be free to do their jobs without fear of retribution or political interference.
He said no one should be suspended for doing their duty, much less when that duty involved an investigation into the prime minister himself, as that was political interference of the worst kind.
Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta