Transcript
PNG's police commissioner, David Manning, said the warrant issued for Peter O'Neill's arrest was in relation to an alleged corruption case which he declined to give details on.
Mr O'Neill's lawyers have challenged the validity of the arrest warrant in court claiming he would likely suffer "irreparable damages" caused by a "defective" warrant.
The head of the police fraud squad, Matthew Damaru, said the legal move was similar to when Mr O'Neill's lawyers challenged a previous warrant for his arrest issued in 2014 in a separate corruption case.
The legal action tied the matter up in court for years while the arrest warrant died a slow death.
"Yeah, it's frustrating, but it's a process. People like Peter O'Neill who are suspected of committing a crime, they have a right to go to court and seek redress if they feel they've been unfairly treated."
Mr O'Neill, who was replaced as prime minister in May this year, is being investigated over allegations related to the funding of churches, according to the Police Minister, Bryan Kramer,
Mr O'Neill has characterised the case as being fabricated as a power play by Mr Kramer, and denied any wrongdoing
"For many years as we all know, especially you Prime Minister as Finance Minister, many churches and communities right throughout the country write to prime ministers, ministers directly for funding to fund their communities, particularly health and education."
Last week, Mr O'Neill's lawyers also sent police a letter asking for clarification on the alleged charges, and for more time regarding the arrest warrant.
Although his directorate was not involved in the case anyway, Mr Damaru was one of the recipients of the letter.
He says this was not the way charges are usually relayed to someone whom police seek to arrest.
"That would be done when the person is brought in for an interview. That's the first thing they do in the interview process. The person cannot be informed of outside of the interview process. It's improper."
Meanwhile, PNG's Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato has been arrested and charged with corruption, money laundering and conspiracy.
Police say Mr Gamato was arrested after a probe into an electoral official found carrying over $US54,000 in cash on the eve of polling in the capital during the 2017 general election.
Police are investigating Mr Gamato's claim the money was camping allowances for election officials.
The runner-up in the National Capital District seat in 2017, Andy Bawa, says the election was marred by irregularities and signs of unfairness.
"At the eve of the elections to have such a huge amount of money in cash being carried around by an election official, or someone high up there, became of serious concern to most of us, and a concern that was, eventually, brought before the attention of the police."
Mr Bawa, a former metropolitan police commander, says it's notable that the arrest took so long.
"In my previous capacity as the NatSup (National Capital Metropolitan Superintendent), such a very high sensitive and serious allegation like that would have been dealt with at the time. To have taken two years, I'd say it's weird."
Mr Gamato told RNZ Pacific he would not make a public comment on the case now while it is before court
