The Waigani Committal Court has struck out an official corruption case against former PNG Sports Foundation Chief Executive Officer Albert Maru Veratau, after his lawyer argued that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) had abused the criminal process.
Mr Veratau was charged by ICAC on 11 November 2025 with one count of official corruption under section 87(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
The charge related to approximately K1.7 million worth of contracts allegedly awarded to Karma Investment Limited without following the required procurement process.
Karma Investment Limited was alleged to be owned by the wife of the then Sports Minister, Hon. Don Polye.
The committal proceedings continued for approximately nine months amid procedural delays.
On 4 September 2026, Mr Veratau’s lawyer, Jim Sanangke, applied before Magistrate Daniels at the Waigani Committal Court to have the matter struck out for want of prosecution and abuse of process.
In his submissions, Mr Sanangke argued that ICAC had “put the cart before the horse” by filing the information instituting the committal proceedings before arresting and charging Mr Veratau.
The defence submitted that the proper criminal process requires a suspect to first be arrested and charged, followed by the filing of the information to institute committal proceedings.
Mr Sanangke argued that ICAC had effectively reversed that process by filing the information first and subsequently arresting and charging Mr Veratau.
He submitted that this amounted to a serious abuse of the court process and rendered the proceedings legally flawed and incapable of continuing.
Mr Siminji from the prosecution submitted that there is a reasonable explanation as to why the information was filed prior to laying the charge on Mr. Veratau and stated that the information was filed when arrest warrant application was made.
After considering the submissions, Magistrate Daniels found that the prosecution had abused the process of the court and ordered that the matter be struck out.
The decision brings to an end the committal proceedings against Mr Veratau in relation to the charge of official corruption.