{"id":782,"date":"2020-12-02T02:39:14","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T02:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=130431"},"modified":"2020-12-02T02:39:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T02:39:14","slug":"former-png-pm-oneill-to-stand-trial-over-israeli-generators-purchase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/02\/former-png-pm-oneill-to-stand-trial-over-israeli-generators-purchase\/","title":{"rendered":"Former PNG PM O\u2019Neill to stand trial over Israeli generators purchase"},"content":{"rendered":"
By RNZ Pacific<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Papua New Guinea\u2019s former Prime Minister, Peter O\u2019Neill, has been committed to stand trial for charges of misappropriation and official corruption<\/p>\n A Waigani Committal Court magistrate Tracey Ganaii yesterday found there was sufficient evidence on the two charges.<\/p>\n They relate to the state purchase of two generators from Israel seven years ago when O\u2019Neill was prime minister.<\/p>\n Police allege that O\u2019Neill directed payments for the purchase without proper procurement and tender processes, or parliamentary approval.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill told media outside court that he welcomed the chance to defend the case.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no personal benefit on my part in this case. But there is a suggestion by some of the witnesses that it was official corruption and misappropriation of unbudgeted items. But we have not presented our evidence in court, which we will do in the National Court.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Neill previously defended the US$14 million purchase of the generators as being a necessary step to addressing chronic electricity blackouts experienced in PNG\u2019s main cities of Port Moresby and Lae.<\/p>\n