PacLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

National Court of Papua New Guinea
You are here:  PacLII >> Databases >> National Court of Papua New Guinea >> 2020 >> [2020] PGNC 444

Database Search | Name Search | Recent Decisions | Noteup | LawCite | Download | Help

State v Paraka [2020] PGNC 444; N8606 (23 October 2020)

N8606

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
[IN THE NATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE]


CR (FC) 118 OF 2019


THE STATE


V


PAUL PARAKA


Waigani: Berrigan J
2020: 19th and 23rd October


CRIMINAL LAW – PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – motion to set aside/dismiss/permanently stay or quash the indictment presented by the Public Prosecutor against the accused pursuant to s. 526 of the Criminal Code – Abuse of process – Dismissed.


Cases Cited:
Papua New Guinea Cases


Pruaitch v Manek (2019) SC1884
The State v Painke [1976] PNGLR 210
Decision on Presentation of Indictment (2019) N8229
State v Wohuinangu (1991) N966
In re Namah (2018) N7194
Decision on Application to Disqualify (2020) N8508
Leahy v Kaluwin (2014) N5813
In the Matter of an Application by Benetius Gehasa (2005) N2817
Application by John Ritsi Kutetoa (2005) N2819
Review Pursuant to Constitution Section 155(2)(b); Application by Herman Joseph Leahy (2006) SC855
The State v Ngasele (2003) SC731
The State v Jack Gola and Mopana Aure [1990] PNGLR 206
The State v Jason Dongoma (2000) N2038
The State v Michael Nama and Others (1999) N1884
The State v John Koma (2002) N2176
The State v Louise Paraka (2002) N2317


Overseas Cases


Connelly v DPP [1964] 2 All ER 401
Hui Chin – Ming v R [1991] 3 WLR 495.
Jago v District Court of NSW (1989) 168 CLR 12
R v Edwards [2009] HCA 20
Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378


References Cited


Sections 37, 176, 177, 214 of the Constitution
Sections 526, 554, 557(2), 558 of the Criminal Code
Section 5 of the Audit Act


Counsel


Ms. T. Aihi with Ms. S Mosoro, for the State
Mr. P. Paraka in person


DECISION ON FURTHER AMENDED MOTION No 1 - TO DISMISS/SET ASIDE/PERMANENTLY STAY/QUASH INDICTMENT


23rd October, 2020


  1. BERRIGAN J: The accused moves a Further Amended Notice of Motion No. 1 filed on 6 October 2020 to have the Court set aside/dismiss/permanently stay or quash the indictment presented by the Public Prosecutor pursuant to s. 526 of the Criminal Code.
  2. The motion contains 14 paragraphs. The accused moves paragraphs 1 to 5 and 9 only, and seeks to argue the remaining paragraphs with Notice of Motion No. 2 filed 12 August 2020, in the event that is required. There is no objection to the proposed course.
  3. The relevant parts of the motion are set out below:

“(1) It is an abuse of process and for want of prosecution within a reasonable time in breach of s.526(3) of the Criminal Code:-


(a) The State/Public Prosecutor’s failure to file and serve on the accused a sealed copy of the Indictment pursuant to the Orders of the Court on the 6th March, 2020.

(b) The State/Public Prosecutor’s failure to serve on the accused the Committal depositions and witnesses’ statements taken before the District Court Committal proceedings (after the National Court formally accepted the Indictment on the 6th March, 2020 in breach of s.526(3) of the Criminal Code Act.

(c) The State/Public Prosecutor’s failure to commence the trial within a reasonable time (within 4 months) in breach of ss. 37(3) and 37(14) of the Constitution (after the Indictment was accepted on the 6th March, 2020)

(2) The Indictment is a nullity in that it has been initiated based on an incomplete Police Brief, where the following evidence/statements of witnesses were either omitted, and where witnesses were deceased, and could not lawfully be part of the Police brief:


(a) BSP Legal Manager, John Maddison Statements/Exhibits. (Deceased)
(b) Evidence status of Police witness Sam Koim, and Exhibit 05; (Omitted in Police Brief and not served on the 25th April 2019)
(c) Witness statements of the following deceased Police witnesses:

(3) The Indictment is a nullity in that the Police brief lacked sufficient evidence the reason why the Police did not initiate the criminal charges (of misappropriation under s.383A of the Criminal Code) in the District Court; and, in the absence of any other additional evidence, the Public Prosecutor unlawfully used the Police brief to lay the charge in the National Court.


(4)The purported single charge of misappropriation under s.383A of the Criminal Code Act be permanently stayed/dismissed/set-aside or be quashed in that the Police brief fails to disclose any prima facie evidence, in breach of s.526(1), 526(3), 534(2), 560(1), (2)(g), 567(1) and 558 of the Criminal Code, ss37(1), (2), 57(1)(3) & (5) and s155(4) of the Constitution.


(5) The Indictment is incompetent and is a nullity in that it has been initiated by the Public Prosecutor in breach of s.5 of the Audit Act and the National Court is therefore devoid of jurisdiction.

(9) The allegations in the District Court (Police Brief) is in connection with an alleged breach of a Supreme Court Stay Order (contempt of Court offence), and such allegations is in the contempt jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and the District Court and National Court are devoid of jurisdiction under ss37(2) and 160(2) of the Constitution and the Indictment is therefore a nullity.”


  1. The accused relies on his submissions filed in court on 19 October 2020, which he spoke to in oral argument, together with 9 affidavits in support sworn by him on 2 October 2020 and filed on 6 October 2020, together with three other affidavits, including his affidavit of 19 November 2019 filed in support of his objection to the presentation of the indictment.
  2. The State opposes the motion and relies on its written submissions filed on 12 October 2020.
  3. I note that a letter was delivered to my associate by the accused late yesterday afternoon seeking to provide an amended version of the accused’s written submissions, together with a notice of motion to vacate the decision and file further submissions, if required. The cover letter states that the typographical errors are minor and “do not affect the merits/contents of the submissions”. This was confirmed by the accused today.
  4. I have made my decision on the basis of the submissions filed by the parties and made in oral submission. I do not intend to vacate my decision, nor do I intend to allow leave to the accused to file further amended submissions. It is neither necessary nor appropriate. The parties have been heard.

ABUSE OF PROCESS AND WANT OF PROSECUTION


  1. The accused submits that the proceedings are an abuse of process for various reasons.
  2. Both the National and Supreme Court have an inherent power to intervene at any stage of a proceeding to prevent an abuse of their process. To permanently stay criminal proceedings, however, is an “extreme remedy”, only to be applied in exceptional circumstances (Jago v District Court of NSW (1989) 168 CLR 12, applied State v Wohuinangu (1991) N966; In re Namah (2018) N7194); such that the accused has established that the continuation of the proceedings would involve unacceptable injustice or unfairness: see Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 at 392; Connelly v DPP [1964] 2 All ER 401; and Hui Chin – Ming v R [1991] 3 WLR 495.
  3. In determining whether to stay a proceeding, the court must balance the need to ensure that an accused receives a fair trial, with the need to hear and determine charges for serious offences, and the need to maintain confidence in the administration of justice (Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378; Jago v District Court of NSW [1989] HCA 46; (1989) 168 CLR 23.
  4. There is substantial public interest in the court exercising its jurisdiction to determine whether a person charged with a criminal offence is guilty. A permanent stay interferes with that public interest and is equivalent to conferring immunity from prosecution.
  5. Some of the bases upon which proceedings might be stayed are referred to in Wartoto v The State (2015) SC1411 at [87].
  6. A permanent stay would be very rare on the basis of delay alone: Jago v District Court of NSW (1989) 168 CLR 12, applied State v Wohuinangu (1991) N966.
  7. I note that the accused refers to a “want of prosecution” on the part of the Public Prosecutor. That is an expression known to civil law, involving different considerations. It has no application here.

GROUND 1(a): SERVICE OF INDICTMENT


  1. The accused contends that the indictment should be dismissed as an abuse of process and “for want of prosecution” in breach of s. 526(3) of the Criminal Code because the State has failed to file and serve a sealed copy of the indictment pursuant to the orders of the court on 6 March 2020.
  2. No submissions were made in support of this ground by the accused, in writing or orally.
  3. I did not make any orders on 6 March 2020 for a sealed copy of the indictment to be served on the accused. See Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [114].
  4. Section 526 contains no requirement as to filing and service of an indictment.
  5. Section 554 of the Criminal Code provides:

“DELIVERY OF COPY OF INDICTMENT.


(1) When a charge is laid against a person under Section 525 or 526, a copy of the indictment shall be served on the accused person or his lawyer at a reasonable time before the commencement of his trial.


(2) When the prosecution serves a notice of intention to rely on a previous conviction as a circumstance of aggravation, it shall serve a copy of the notice on the accused person or his lawyer a reasonable time before the commencement of the trial.


(3) If a copy of the indictment or the notice of intention to rely on a previous conviction as a circumstance of aggravation is not so served within such time before the commencement of the trial as is reasonable in order to allow the accused to prepare his defence, the court shall, on application, grant to the accused person an adjournment for such time as it thinks reasonable in the interest of justice.”


  1. A trial commences not upon presentation of an indictment, but upon arraignment: s 557(2) of the Criminal Code.
  2. The indictment has been presented and accepted but the accused has not yet been arraigned pending the hearing and determination of three motions filed by him:
  3. The Public Prosecutor has complied with s. 554 of the Criminal Code. The Public Prosecutor first provided a copy of the indictment to the accused by way of letter dated 25 April 2019 and it was the subject of the hearing in December last year: see the Public Prosecutor’s affidavit sworn 4 November 2019 at paragraph 18, especially 18(b). See also Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [73].
  4. Even if any orders had been made for a further copy of the indictment to be served on the accused, the accused has failed to demonstrate any prejudice. He has been aware of the terms of the indictment since April last year. It is clear from his motion(s) and submissions that he is very familiar with its terms.
  5. Moreover, the indictment was presented in December 2019 and is now on the court file. A copy may be made readily available upon request.
  6. Ground 1(a) is dismissed.

GROUND 1(b): SERVICE PURSUANT to s. 526(3) of the CRIMINAL CODE


  1. The accused contends that the Public Prosecutor has failed to serve committal depositions and witness statements on him pursuant to s. 526(3) of the Criminal Code.
  2. Section 526 provides:

“INDICTMENT WITHOUT COMMITTAL.


(1) Where a court of summary jurisdiction has refused to commit a person for trial for an indictable offence, the Public Prosecutor may–


(a) consider the evidence contained in the depositions taken before the court (and any other relevant evidence); and

(b) reduce into writing in an indictment a charge of any offence that the evidence appears to warrant.


(2) The indictment may be presented to the National Court by the Public Prosecutor or a State Prosecutor.


(3) Where the Public Prosecutor reduces a charge to writing in an indictment under Subsection (1), he shall cause to be served on the accused person or his lawyer–


(a) copies of the depositions taken at the committal proceedings; and

(b) copies of statements taken from witnesses whom the prosecution intends to call at the trial,

within such time before the commencement of the trial as is reasonable in order to allow the accused person to prepare his defence.”


  1. The accused contends that there are two distinct steps required pursuant to s. 526 of the Criminal Code. Firstly, the Public Prosecutor must comply with s. 526(1) before the indictment can be accepted. Secondly, once the indictment has been accepted, this triggers a formal obligation on the Public Prosecutor to personally serve copies of the committal depositions and witness statements on an accused, regardless of whether or not the material has already been served by the Public Prosecutor prior to the presentation of the indictment.
  2. This argument arises from my previous ruling that s. 526(3) was not strictly a precondition to the presentation of a s 526 indictment: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [106] to [112].
  3. Furthermore, the accused argues that in this case the Public Prosecutor has failed to serve the depositions and witness statements following acceptance of the indictment in March 2020 within a reasonable time and therefore the proceedings are an abuse of process for “want of prosecution”.
  4. In particular, that the police brief served on him cannot be regarded as “depositions taken at the committal proceedings” because the materials “did not go through the formal investigative hearing by the magistrate under ss 94C-100 of the District Courts Act” because the magistrate dismissed all charges as an abuse of process.
  5. As I found previously, depositions were taken at the committal court: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [67].
  6. As also found in those proceedings, by his own evidence, a copy of the police brief filed in the District Court was formally served on the accused on 7 May 2017, more than three years ago: Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [34]; accused’s affidavit of 19 November 2019 at paragraph 35(a).
  7. A copy of the police brief filed in the District Court was provided to the Public Prosecutor by the police following the magistrate’s refusal to commit: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [71] to [72], and affidavit of Detective Senior Constable Pius Peng sworn 25 November 2019 at paragraphs 4 and 5.
  8. The Public Prosecutor considered that material in deciding to proceed with an indictment pursuant to s. 526 against the accused on one count of misappropriation: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra) at [71] to [73] and affidavit of Pondros Kaluwin sworn 4 November 2019 at paragraph 18.
  9. A copy of the indictment and the police brief on which the Public Prosecutor relies were served on the accused on 26 April 2019: affidavit of Pondros Kaluwin sworn 4 November 2019 at paragraph 18. The accused confirms that he was served a copy of the police brief on 26 April 2019: accused’s affidavit of 19 November 2019 at paragraphs 27 and 28. I make clear again that I have not viewed the annexures concerned.
  10. There is no new, distinct and formal requirement that arises under s.526(3) of the Criminal Code following acceptance of the indictment. The accused is reading words into s 526(3) that are simply not there.
  11. In reaching a decision under s. 526(1) the Public Prosecutor is not confined to the depositions taken at committal but may also consider “any other relevant evidence”. The purpose of s. 526(3) is to ensure that an accused is provided with the material upon which the State intends to rely, including any other relevant evidence that has been considered in addition to that relied upon at the committal stage, a reasonable time prior to trial.
  12. The accused has a right to know the charge against him and the evidence in support of that charge upon which the State intends to rely so that he is afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare his defence. See s. 37(4)(c) of the Constitution. As to what is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of any particular case. Ultimately, the question is one of fairness.
  13. In this case the accused’s argument is entirely without merit. Even if it were correct, he has failed to demonstrate any prejudice. He has been in possession of the relevant material for a number of years. He was served with the police brief for the first time in May 2017. In April 2019 the Public Prosecutor served on him the indictment, together with a further copy of that brief, being the material upon which the State intends to rely at trial.
  14. As to the accused’s complaint that no “copies of statements taken from witnesses whom the prosecution intends to call at the trial” were served, it is clear from the face of the accused’s motion that the police brief upon which the Public Prosecutor relies, and which has been served, contains witness statements. If there are no new witnesses that is a matter for the State.
  15. Ground 1(b) is dismissed.

GROUND 1(c): STATE FAILURE TO COMMENCE TRIAL WITHIN 4 MONTHS


  1. The accused contends that the Public Prosecutor has failed to commence the trial within a reasonable time, namely 4 months of the acceptance of the indictment on 6 March 2020 in contravention of ss. 37(3) and 37(14) of the Constitution, which provide that:

“37. Protection of the law.

(1) Every person has the right to the full protection of the law, and the succeeding provisions of this section are intended to ensure that that right is fully available, especially to persons in custody or charged with offences...

(3) A person charged with an offence shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time, by an independent and impartial court.”..

(14) In the event that the trial of a person is not commenced within four months of the date on which he was committed for trial, a detailed report concerning the case shall be made by the Chief Justice to the Minister responsible for the National Legal Administration...”


  1. The accused argues that the reference to “committed for trial” in 37(14) should be taken to mean “acceptance of the indictment” in this case, and that it has been 8 months since that occurred. Further that the trial has not commenced and that the delay is unreasonable on the part of the Public Prosecutor.
  2. This argument is based in part on the contention that the indictment cannot proceed because the Public Prosecutor has failed to serve the relevant documents outlined above under Ground 1(b). As above, I have found that ground to be without merit.
  3. Furthermore, whilst it has been eight months since the acceptance of the indictment that delay does not lie at the feet of the Public Prosecutor. As outlined in Decision on Application to Disqualify (2020) N8508 at [3] to [10]:

“On 6 March 2020 I delivered my decision dismissing the accused’s objection to the presentation of an indictment pursuant to s. 526 of the Criminal Code by the Public Prosecutor: State v Paul Paraka (2020) N8229 (Decision on Presentation of Indictment).


The parties were directed to file pre-trial review statements by 23 March 2020 and the matter was adjourned to that date. The State filed its pre-trial review statement on 20 March 2020. The accused is yet to do so.


The Court closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic on 23 March 2020. The parties were advised in May that I intended to return to Papua New Guinea in June 2020 but for reasons beyond my control this was not possible.


Following my return the matter was listed on 12 August 2020 at which time the accused informed the Court that he had that morning filed two notices of motion which he intended to serve on the State, and intended to file a further motion seeking that I disqualify myself. The accused sought to have the first of his three motions dealt with first. I directed that all three motions be dealt with together and at the accused’s request adjourned the matter for hearing on 3 September 2020. Parties were directed to file written submissions by 24 August and serve them by 28 August 2020. The State filed its submissions on 31 August.


The matter returned for submissions on 3 September 2020 at which time the accused sought to have the matter adjourned to late September or early October 2020 on the basis that “he was unable to complete the relevant affidavits in support of the notices of motions filed on time as a result of the substantial distractions caused by the Supreme Court Judicial Review applications for leave filed and argued and the applications for stay of the National Court proceedings.” Furthermore, he indicated that he had filed an Amended Notice of Motion No 3 for me to disqualify myself from hearing the motions and sought an order for a transcript of the proceedings on 20 November and 6 December 2019 on which he relied for this purpose.


As I explained to the accused, which he accepted, he is a very experienced lawyer and if he chooses to represent himself in this and other proceedings that is entirely a matter for him but that fact must not be allowed to delay these proceedings.


On reflection, however, I formed the view that the application for me to disqualify myself should be heard and determined first. Furthermore, it was appropriate for the proceedings to be adjourned to allow time for the transcript requested to be made available for that purpose.


The matter returned on 10 September 2020. The accused initially sought but ultimately withdrew his application for a further adjournment, and made oral submissions in support of his application to have me disqualify myself.”


  1. Further to the above, I dismissed the accused’s application to have me disqualify myself on 22 September 2020. The accused’s Amended Notice of Motion No 1 was fixed for hearing the first week of the October sittings, and on 9 October 2020 to allow sufficient time for argument. On that day and on 12 October 2020 the matter was adjourned on the accused’s application as he was feeling unwell and set down for the morning of 19 October 2020. The motion was heard on that day.
  2. Whilst s 37(14) provides a standard or a guideline, ultimately what is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of any particular case: Painke (supra).
  3. This case bears no resemblance to those relied upon by the accused. In Leahy v Kaluwin (2014) N5813 there was a delay of 9 years, five months from the presentation of the s 526 indictment to the date of the human rights application to have the matter struck out. Whilst the delay of 5 years was explained due to challenges brought by the accused in the Supreme Court, the Court found that the State had failed to do anything for four years thereafter, and had not attempted to even mention the matter let alone bring it to trial.
  4. Similarly, In the Matter of an Application by Benetius Gehasa (2005) N2817 has no application here. In that case the accused had been held in custody on a wilful murder charge for more than four years without mention, his file had been lost and he had been lost in the system. Furthermore, whilst he was released from custody following a human rights application, the order specifically recognised that the police were at liberty to continue their investigation against him on the same charge.
  5. Nor does Application by John Ritsi Kutetoa (2005) N2819 have any relevance to this case. It concerned applications by four convicted prisoners seeking orders that they not be transferred away from the area in which their relatives reside.
  6. Returning to the present case, the Public Prosecutor has filed his pre-trial review statement pursuant to my orders in March. The accused has not. The disruption between April and August was caused by the unprecedented events of the Covid 19 pandemic; events the likes of which we have not seen in more than one hundred years. But the accused did nothing during that period himself to comply with my orders to file a pre-trial review statement or identify those matters from his original motion upon which he intended to rely. The Public Prosecutor is ready to proceed to trial. The commencement of the trial has been prevented by three motions brought by the accused, none of which were filed until the morning of 12 August 2020, the date the matter returned for mention. Those motions have since been amended by the accused a number of times. The application to disqualify was heard first in time; the hearing of the others adjourned at the accused’s request on a number of occasions.
  7. The accused’s contention that there has been unreasonable delay on the part of the Public Prosecutor fails. There has been no delay on the part of the Public Prosecutor.
  8. For completeness I note that the accused in his submissions broadens his argument to include delay from before the acceptance of the indictment in March this year. That is outside the terms of his motion, he did not refer to it on submissions, and I refuse to consider it here.
  9. Ground 1(c) is dismissed.

GROUND 2: INDICTMENT IS A NULLITY


  1. Grounds 2, 3 and 4 are related. Essentially the accused contends that the indictment in a nullity because the evidence contained on the brief upon which the Public Prosecutor relies is insufficient to establish a prima facie case against him on the charge of misappropriation. Whilst not articulated expressly, it appears that he argues here that the indictment is therefore calculated to prejudice or embarrass him in his defence for the purposes of s 558 of the Criminal Code, and/or should be permanently stayed for abuse of process.

Ground 2: “Incomplete Police Brief”


  1. Pursuant to Ground 2 the accused contends that the indictment is a nullity because the police brief is “incomplete” such that of the 18 witnesses whose statements are contained on the brief: one witness statement is missing; eight witnesses are now dead; and the remaining witnesses in his assessment are “irrelevant”.
  2. The accused sought on submission to demonstrate visually that the effect of removing the statements of the missing and dead witnesses is to physically reduce the size of the brief by half. That is really beside the point, particularly as the accused maintains that all of the witnesses are irrelevant to the case against him in any event.
  3. The accused maintains that one of the statements was missing from the brief served on him on 25 April 2019. The Public Prosecutor maintains that the complete brief was served on that day. It is apparent that the Public Prosecutor and the accused share different views as to the relevance of the remaining nine witnesses.
  4. As to whether the missing statement was part of the material served in April 2019 is immaterial. There is no dispute that the accused is in possession of the relevant document. In fact the accused says he was served with it by police in May 2017: see his affidavit of 2 October 2020 (re Police Brief by Senior Constable Pius Peng) at paragraph 6. I make it clear that I have not viewed the annexures referred to therein.
  5. Ultimately, whether or not the evidence of any witness is relevant and admissible, and whether the evidence presented by the State is sufficient to establish its case against the accused to the requisite standard, are matters for trial.
  6. Ground 2 is dismissed.

Ground 3: Unlawful charge of misappropriation


  1. Ground 3 accuses the Public Prosecutor of proceeding with the charge of misappropriation unlawfully. The accused contends that the Public Prosecutor has expressly stated that the evidence to support charges against him in the District Court was insufficient, and has in the circumstances unlawfully proceeded with a misappropriation charge at the National Court.
  2. In support of this contention the accused relies on the charges laid at the committal court and the decision of the District Court by Magistrate Gauli, which was the subject of the Decision on Presentation of Indictment¸ and the decision of the District Court by Magistrate Wilmot dismissing a different set of charges against him.
  3. For the purposes of this case, the accused was charged with 27 charges at committal including 17 counts of conspiracy to defraud, and 5 counts of stealing by false pretence, contrary to ss. 407(1)(b) and 404(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, respectively, together with a further 5 counts of money laundering, contrary to s. 34(2) of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2005.
  4. The laying of the information against the accused at the District Court is a matter for police. It was for the police at that stage to choose what they considered the appropriate charge. The Public Prosecutor has no power over the charges at this stage: S 197(2) of the Constitution.
  5. As for the National Court proceedings, however, it is well established that the Public Prosecutor is responsible for controlling the exercise and performance of the prosecution function of the State pursuant to s. 176 and 177 of the Constitution. As explained by the Supreme Court in Review Pursuant to Constitution Section 155(2)(b); Application by Herman Joseph Leahy (2006) SC855 at [141]:

“These provisions establish the office of the Public Prosecutor and provide for the functions of the office, one of the most important of which is "to control the exercise and performance of the prosecution function ... before the Supreme Court and the National Court". The Public Prosecutor (Office and Functions) Act fleshes out that function. Section 526 gives effect to it. It facilitates the exercise and performance of the prosecution function. It allows the Public Prosecutor to control it. It allows the Public Prosecutor to decide what cases are prosecuted in the National Court.”


  1. It is also well settled that pursuant to s. 526 the Public Prosecutor has an absolute power to consider the evidence, and at his/her discretion, indict on a charge “of any offence that the evidence appears to warrant”. That power is not subject to any direction or control from or by anybody: The State v Ngasele (2003) SC731; see also the discussion in Leahy at [149]. That power has been affirmed in several cases, including: The State v Jack Gola and Mopana Aure [1990] PNGLR 206; The State v Jason Dongoma (2000) N2038; The State v Michael Nama and Others (1999) N1884; The State v John Koma (2002) N2176.
  2. As explained by Kirriwom J in The State v Michael Nama and Others (1999) N1884 regarding indictments under s 525:

“... in deciding on what charge or charges the prosecutor, whether he is called State Prosecutor or Public Prosecutor ... is not subject to any direction or control. He has a very wide discretion on what charge or charges to proceed with and what charges he discontinues. A Committal Court’s rulings do not restrict the powers of the Public Prosecutor which originate from the Constitution. It has been the practice and continues to be so that following committal the accused is indicted with the offence that the evidence in the depositions support – see s. 525 of the Criminal Code or the one negotiated and obtained for purposes of guilty pleas ... The original charges do not determine the eventual charge in the indictment.”


  1. This power is essential to ensuring that accused persons are indicted on charges that appropriately reflect the nature and extent of criminal conduct which is disclosed by the evidence: The State v Douba N7627. Per Kandakasi J in The State v Louise Paraka (2002) N2317, s. 525 proceeds on the basis that the Public Prosecutor, or a State Prosecutor for that matter, “is in a better position to consider the interest of the people and the mechanics of proving a charge against an accused person and then proffer the charge he considers sustainable". The same may be said with respect to the choice of charge under s. 526.
  2. The Public Prosecutor has decided to proceed on one charge of misappropriation after assessing the evidence. I have already found that the Public Prosecutor has complied with the pre-conditions contained in s. 526 of the Criminal Code and accepted the indictment accordingly: Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra).
  3. To my mind that is the end of the matter. I note here, however, that on the face of it, most of the charges at the District Court concerned allegations of dishonesty. The similar nature of such charges in general terms is well established. The expressions intent to defraud, fraudulent means or dishonesty found in s 407 (1) and s 383A are often used interchangeably: Potape v The State (2015) SC1613. See also s. 544 of the Criminal Code, which permits a person charged on indictment with, inter alia, stealing, or obtaining goods by false pretences, or misappropriation, to be “convicted of any other of those offences committed with respect to the same property, if that other offence is established by the evidence”. The remaining charges at the District Court were of money laundering, or of dealing with money which is the proceeds of crime. Again, on the face of it they are of a somewhat similar nature.
  4. Moreover, contrary to submissions by the accused, the Public Prosecutor has not “expressly rejected the 27 criminal charges as lacking sufficient evidence”. Rather, he formed the view that the appropriate charge was one of misappropriation.
  5. It is useful to set out the relevant parts of the Public Prosecutor’s affidavit of 7 November 2019 again (emphasis mine):

“18. In terms of the course of events leading to the decision to commence a prosecution pursuant to section 526 of the Criminal Code, I say as follow:

a. A copy of the Indictment is annexed hereto as Annexure PP-[4];

  1. At my instruction the indictment and the Hand Up Brief was served on the Accused on 26 April 2019;
  1. The indictment, which has the effect of initiating a prosecution, was signed by me pursuant to section 526 of the Criminal Code following my consideration of the brief provided to me by the Police on 14 December 2018;

d. That Indictment was signed by me on 25 April 2019;

  1. I exercised the power in section 526 of the Criminal Code, following the decision of the Committal Court to dismiss the charges against the Respondent.
  2. A copy of the decision of the Committal Court, dated 10 December 2018. Annexed hereto as Annexure PP-[5].
  3. In coming to a view to issue an indictment pursuant to section 526 of the Criminal Code, I carefully considered the evidence provided to me. In considering that evidence, I considered that there was a prima facie case with reasonable prospects of conviction arising on the material provided.
  4. I did not consider that the charges laid in the initial information were appropriate, however in accordance with the power outlined in section 526, I made a determination to lay a different charge. That charge however, is not novel to the Accused, and no prejudice flows. The charge proposed to be laid, is what I consider the appropriate charge arising from the evidence presented at committal, and the general nature of the case remains the same.
  1. I note in particular, on page 3 of the decision of the learned Magistrate, is a chronology of events as found by the learned Magistrate, and a finding by that Magistrate that the delay in the conduct of the proceedings in the committal Court was largely the responsibility of the Respondent. In this respect, I note the comments at paragraph 8 of the learned Magistrate decision.
  2. In addition to considering the evidence, I also considered carefully the Magistrates decision to dismiss the case. After considering the position, I came to the view that the learned Magistrate’s decision to dismiss the case in the manner in which he did was, with respect, incorrect at law.
  3. Having come to that view, namely that the learned Magistrate had made an error of law in dismissing the case, and that the evidence presented to me supported a charge, I made a determination that it was appropriate to commerce a proceeding by way of section 526 of the Criminal Code.”
  4. There is no evidence of impropriety or improper purpose. As above, it is entirely consistent with the purpose of s. 526 of the Criminal Code to allow the Constitutional office holder responsible for exercising the prosecution function of the State to determine what charges in his view are most appropriate on the materials available. Whether or not the State is able to sustain those charges at trial is a separate matter.
  5. The dismissal of other charges by the District Court concerning alleged conduct by the accused at a different time is not a matter before this Court.
  6. Ground 3 is dismissed.

Ground 4: POLICE BRIEF FAILS TO DISCLOSE PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE


  1. The accused submits that when “a different charge is laid in the National Court (arising from the same depositions) by way of Ex-Officio Indictment, it must be read into s. 526(3) of the Criminal Code Act a requirement for the accused to be given the right to be heard in relation to a lack of sufficient evidence for a prima facie case for the offence of misappropriation. The accused must be heard at a preliminary stage prior to the trial proper.”
  2. The accused relies on s. 37(1) and 37(2), which provide:

“37. Protection of the law.

(1) Every person has the right to the full protection of the law, and the succeeding provisions of this section are intended to ensure that that right is fully available, especially to persons in custody or charged with offences.
(2) Except, subject to any Act of the Parliament to the contrary, in the case of the offence commonly known as contempt of court, nobody may be convicted of an offence that is not defined by, and the penalty for which is not prescribed by, a written law.”


  1. He argues that it is not fair for him to be called upon to plead to the indictment when there is insufficient evidence contained in the brief to sustain it, and asks the Court to review the District Court police brief and form a view for this purpose.
  2. I decline to do so. It is neither necessary nor appropriate. The accused is again reading words into s 526 that are not there.
  3. The accused had a right to be heard at the committal stage. He exercised that right. He declined to make submissions on the sufficiency of evidence after ample opportunity and instead objected to the proceedings on the basis that they were an abuse of process: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment at [38] to [42].
  4. The magistrate refused to commit on that basis. In the event that a magistrate refuses to commit, the State may only proceed to the National Court pursuant to s. 526 of the Criminal Code, which requires that the Public Prosecutor himself must consider the evidence and “reduce into writing in an indictment a charge of any offence that the evidence appears to warrant”.
  5. I have already found that the Public Prosecutor has complied with these requirements pursuant to s. 526 and accepted the indictment: see Decision on Presentation of Indictment (supra).
  6. The accused has failed to identify on what basis he is now prejudiced in his defence by being required to plead to the indictment. The fact that he might have been prosecuted under different offence provisions for the same alleged conduct does not mean that he is prejudiced in his defence to the charge chosen by the Public Prosecutor in accordance with his Constitutional powers. The accused remains protected by law. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence and all other protections that ensure his right to a fair trial. He has been in possession of the material upon which the State relies since 2017. As above, the charge arises out of that same material, and is of the same general nature, namely dishonesty in respect of State monies. Whether or not the evidence is admissible or sufficient to establish the alleged offence contained in the indictment is a matter for the trial.
  7. As to whether the evidence also gives rise to an allegation of contempt before the Supreme Court, that is not a matter before this Court (see further below).
  8. Ground 4 is dismissed.

GROUND 5: S. 5 OF THE AUDIT ACT


  1. The accused contends that the indictment is a nullity because the charge of misappropriation has been unlawfully initiated against him in breach of s. 5 of the Audit Act, which is an exception to the prosecution function of the State under s. 197 (sic) of the Constitution. S. 5 (power to prosecute) provides:

“(1) Where the Auditor-General is satisfied that a person, to whom the provisions relating to audit contained in the Constitutional Laws and this Act apply, is guilty of misappropriation, misuse or fraud of public money, stores or property he shall refer the matter, together with a statement of the reasons for being so satisfied, to the Public Prosecutor.

(2) Where a matter has been referred to the Public Prosecutor under Subsection (1) and the Public Prosecutor has failed to proceed with the matter after 60 days, the Auditor-General may prosecute the person who in his opinion is guilty of misappropriation of public monies.”


  1. The accused submits that the investigation, audit and inspection of all State funds must be investigated by the Auditor General pursuant to s. 214 of the Constitution, and may not be investigated by police. Further that pursuant to s. 5 of the Audit Act the Public Prosecutor may only prosecute the alleged misappropriation of State monies upon referral from the Auditor-General. In this case there has been no investigation by the Auditor-General and no referral by the Auditor General and thus the indictment is a nullity and must be quashed pursuant to s. 558 of the Criminal Code.
  2. Section 214 of the Constitution sets out the functions of the Auditor-General:

(1) The primary functions of the Auditor-General are to inspect and audit, and to report at least once in every fiscal year (as provided by an Act of the Parliament) to the Parliament on the public accounts of Papua New Guinea, and on the control of and on transactions with or concerning the public moneys and property of Papua New Guinea, and such other functions as are prescribed by or under a Constitutional Law...”


  1. This ground is misconceived. The cases relied on in support of the accused’s argument, namely Reference by Morobe Provincial Government (2005) SC785, and Sam Koim v The State (2016) N6558 are of no assistance.
  2. Section 5 is a facilitative, not an exclusive provision. It recognises that in the course of performing his or her functions in inspecting public accounts, the Auditor General may form a view that a person is guilty of misappropriating public money. To facilitate the prosecution of such matters the Act provides that the Auditor General shall refer matters directly to the Public Prosecutor, and in the event that the Public Prosecutor declines to prosecute within a certain time frame, prosecute those matters him/herself.
  3. The fact that there is another means by which the alleged misappropriation of State monies might be referred to the Public Prosecutor does not preclude him from proceeding pursuant to s. 525 or s 526 of the Criminal Code following committal proceedings.
  4. The argument also fails to recognise the power of police to investigate crimes and the power of the Public Prosecutor to control the prosecution function of the State.
  5. There is nothing in either s. 214 of the Constitution or s. 5 of the Audit Act that prevents the police from investigating offences under the Criminal Code. Pursuant to s. 140 of the Police Act:

“A member of the Force has the same powers, duties, rights and liabilities as a Constable under the underlying law, except so far as they are modified by or under an Act.”


  1. The general duties of a policeman at common law are summarized in Archbold’s Criminal Pleadings Evidence and Practice, 2015 Ed. [19-329] as follows (emphasis mine):

“It is part of the obligations and duties of a police constable to take all steps which appear to him necessary for keeping the peace, for preventing crime, or for protecting property from criminal injury. There is no exhaustive definition of the powers and obligations of the police but there are at least these and would further include the duty to detect crime and bring an offender to justice: Rice v Connolly [1966] 2 QB 414, per Lord Parker CJ. See also R v Waterfield and Lynn [1963] 48 Cr App R.42, 57 and Coffin and Another v Smith [1980] 72 Cr App R.221, DC.”


  1. As above, the laying of the information against the accused at the District Court containing charges under the Criminal Code was within the powers of the police. Again, once there was a refusal to commit it was a matter for the Public Prosecutor whether and, if so, on what charge(s) to proceed before the National Court.
  2. Ground 5 is dismissed.

GROUND 9: CONTEMPT


  1. As I understand it, the accused contends that the allegations by certain witnesses whose statements are contained on the police brief give rise to an alleged breach of a Supreme Court order, and thus a charge of contempt, which may only be dealt with by the Supreme Court pursuant to s. 160(2) of the Constitution, and thus the National Court lacks jurisdiction proceedings pursuant to s. 37(2) of the Constitution.
  2. I agree that there is no contempt charge before this Court. What is before this Court is one count of misappropriation contrary to s. 383A of the Criminal Code, as contained in the s. 526 indictment. I decline to review the evidence of the witness referred to in paragraph 122 of the accused’s submissions.
  3. Whether or not the evidence of the witness or witnesses, or parts thereof, referred to by the accused are relevant and/or admissible in support of the count contained in the indictment are issues for determination at trial.
  4. Ground 9 is dismissed.

CONCLUSION


  1. There was a great deal of affidavit material filed in support of this motion, most of which was not referred to in the accused’s submissions and even less of which it has been necessary or appropriate to have regard to. I make it clear that unless I have referred to it as supporting my findings, I have not reviewed the material.
  2. In conclusion, none of the contentions as to delay or unlawfulness have been established. The arguments regarding the Audit Act and “contempt” are misconceived. The accused has failed to establish that the indictment is “a nullity”. The accused has failed to establish that he would be prejudiced in his right to a fair trial. Questions as to the relevance, admissibility or weight of evidence are properly matters for the trial.
  3. The accused has failed to establish that the continuation of the proceedings would involve unacceptable, or any, injustice or unfairness. The accused has failed to establish any basis upon which the indictment should be set aside/dismissed, permanently stayed or quashed. The indictment is properly before the Court. It contains a serious allegation of misappropriation of State monies. There is a need to hear and determine the matter, both in the interests of justice in this case, and the interests of the administration of justice more broadly.

Orders


  1. Accordingly, I make the following orders:
    1. Paragraphs 1 to 5, and 9 of the accused’s Further Amended Notice of Motion No. 1 to set aside/dismiss/permanently stay or quash the indictment are dismissed.
    2. The remaining grounds will be heard together with the accused’s Further Amended Notice of Motion No. 2 at the first available date.

___________________________________________________________
Public Prosecutor: Lawyers for the State
The Accused: In person


PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/pg/cases/PGNC/2020/444.html