Ialibu-Pangia MP, Peter O’Neill was today arrested and officially charged by police following allegations of perjury in an official enquiry into the UBS Commission of Inquiry. He was charged with 3 counts of giving false information. Subsequently, three charges were laid on Mr O’Neill today are as follows: • Mr. O'Neill did appear as a witness on the 17th of June 2021 before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Processes and Procedures Followed by the Government of Papua New Guinea into Obtaining the Off-Shore Loan from the Union Bank of Switzerland and Related Transactions and given false evidence on oath, that he had “no knowledge whatsoever” of what Oil Search Ltd intended to do with the money paid by the State for the purchase of Oil Search shares in 2014, and that Oil Search Ltd intended to use the money paid by the State for shares in Oil Search Ltd to purchase an interest in PRL-15 Elk Antelope, before the Royal Commission of Inquiry; • Did appear as a witness on the 9th of August 2021 before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Processes and Procedures Followed by the Government of Papua New Guinea into Obtaining the Off-Shore Loan from the Union Bank of Switzerland and Related Transactions give false evidence that, “there was never any discussion” about Oil Search Ltd using the money paid by the State for the purchase of shares in Oil Search Ltd to buy an interest in PRL-15 Elk Antelope and “this information did not come to the government’s notice or particularly at the leadership level” before the said Royal Commission of Inquiry; • Did appear as a witness on the 17th of February 202 before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Processes and Procedures Followed by the Government of Papua New Guinea into Obtaining the Off-Shore Loan from the Union Bank of Switzerland and Related Transactions give false evidence on oath that “there was never any discussion” about Oil Search Ltd using the money paid by the State for the purchase of shares in Oil Search Limited to buy an interest in PRL-15 Elk Antelope and “this information did not come to government’s notice or in particularly the leadership level” before the said Royal Commission of Inquiry. Police Commissioner, David Manning told PNG HAUSBUNG that this morning, Mr. O’Neill was kind enough to make himself available for questioning by police at the Police Headquarters [PHQ]. “He came in at 10am and the investigators interviewed him, and he complied with all the due process and was cautioned and advised of his rights before his arrest.” “O’Neill was then taken under escort to the Boroko Police station where he was processed and released on bail.” Late last week, the office of the Commissioner circulated a release, summoning the MP to report to PHQ for questioning. This was following investigations into the UBS Commission of Inquiry report where the Police Commissioner stated that police were certain that O’Neill gave false evidence whilst under oath. Meanwhile, Manning further said that as anticipated, a large crowd had also gathered around PHQ this morning, in support of the MP and remained outside for the duration of the time the MP spent in the interview and to Boroko.