MELBOURNE, Australia — On Thursday, Australian prosecutors decided to dismiss a charge against a Papua New Guinea government official who was accused of assaulting a woman in Sydney.
Jimmy Maladina, the Minister of Petroleum, had been facing allegations of causing actual bodily harm and had entered a plea of not guilty. This offense carried the risk of a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The charge was withdrawn by prosecutors in a Sydney court, where Maladina, aged 58, appeared in response to accusations of attacking a 31-year-old woman on July 6 of the previous year at a location near Bondi Beach, known for its prestigious eastern suburbs, according to court documents.
After the magistrate dismissed the charge, Maladina was observed smiling alongside his attorney, Margaret Cunneen. As he left the court, he chose not to address the awaiting media. When asked for a statement, Cunneen remarked that the outcome “speaks for itself.”
In a text communication, she further stated, “He remains a person of good character with no criminal record.” Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from the office of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape regarding Maladina’s exoneration.
In the days following the purported incident, Prime Minister Marape announced a change in leadership for the petroleum sector. Energy Minister Thoms Opa temporarily assumed responsibility after Maladina opted to step down during the legal proceedings.
Only three months later, Marape reappointed Maladina to his cabinet role based on legal counsel. “Jimmy Maladina has been restored to the petroleum ministry to continue the work in the petroleum sector. This is happening in consultation with legal advice we have received,” Marape stated to a local newspaper in October of the previous year.
It is worth noting that foreign ministers can seek criminal immunity in Australia if they are present for official business. However, this privilege does not apply to private visits.
Cunneen highlighted that Maladina’s stay had been personal, intended to visit his children, and therefore, he did not have immunity from legal proceedings during that period.
Papua New Guinea is adjacent to Australia and was previously an Australian colony until its independence in 1975.