Geoffrey Vaki is sentenced to Bomana for 3 Years with Hard Labour


Chief Justice sitting as National Court Judge handed his ruling on Vaki's sentencing today after finding him guilty of two counts of the criminal charges of contempt of court for failing to effect the District Court warrant of arrest against the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. He was sentenced to serve 3 years with hard labour at Bomana Corrections facility.

 Vaki's lawyer Greg Sheppard and Queens Counsel John Griffins pleaded for a non-custodial (no prison) sentence.

His lawyers argued Vaki should not be punished because the present case is unique, involving complex court proceedings. There was no previous decision of either National or Supreme Courts dealing with powers of the Police Commissioner in the context of a warrant of arrest.

They argued that the conduct of Vaki cannot be fairly classified in the all the circumstances as wilful or intentional breach of a court order. He was acting on legal advice relating to the Chief Justice ruling in a previous matter dealing with Contempt Court.

Ironically the lawyers that represented Vaki in the defence of his contempt charges are the same lawyers that advised him not to effect the warrant.

While Plaintiff's National Fraud Anti-corruption Director Mathew Damaru and his Deputy Timothy Gitua who also Members of the Task Force Sweep Team argued that Vaki should be sentenced to five years imprisonment for each count.

The Papua News Guinea Chief Justice Chief Sir Salamo Injia has at 11:30 pronounced his verdict and sentenced former Commissioner of Police Geoffrey Vaki to a term of 3 years with "hard labor". Injia convicted Vaki last month for not executing a warrant of arrest issued by Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakam on 12 June 2014 against the country's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Injia in his defined ruling said this was a classical example of a sharp violation of a court order and sentenced Vaki despite his plea for non-custodial sentence. 

It is expected that Vaki will instruct his lawyers to immediately file an appeal to the Supreme Court and apply for bail.

Injia ordered that Vaki be escorted to Bomana right from the Court house. He is right on his way to the home of Paul Tiensten and Francis Potape.

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