Papua New Guinea lawyer Paul Paraka has failed in his bid to stop criminal proceedings against him.
Mr Paraka's law firm is at the centre of a fraud case which has engulfed the highest levels of PNG politics, including Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
Paul Paraka Photo: PNGExposed
In court, Mr Paraka's lawyer sought orders to stay proceedings in the committal court pending the result of proceedings in the national court.
But magistrate Cosmas Bidar described the application as a stalling tactic, and said the reasons put forward by the defence were not convincing.
Mr Paraka faces more than 30 corruption-related charges involving alleged fraud of more than $US70 million from the state to his law firm.
An arrest warrant for the Prime Minister related to the scandal was quashed by the Supreme Court last week.
