The Komo Magarima MP Francis Potape has been freed from jail after Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court quashed his conviction for misuse of public funds.
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Mr Potape was jailed by the National Court for two and half years in February concurrently for misusing more than 100,000 US dollars in district funding.
Refused bail to appeal against his conviction by the National Court Mr Potape has spent the interim period in Bomana prison near the PNG capital.
However, Mr Potape's appeal at the Supreme Court was upheld by a three-men bench led by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia which quashed his conviction and set aside his sentence.
The Supreme Court also ordered the matter be remitted to the National Court for retrial before another Judge.
The Post Courier reports that Mr Potape has been discharged with a bail of US$3500.