The former chairman of Papua New Guinea’s National Provident Fund has failed in his bid to have the Supreme Court stay his sentencing later this month.

Jimmy Maladina was convicted by the National Court last month for misappropriation and conspiring to defraud the fund of about two million dollars in 1998, and in 2000.

But Maladina’s lawyer asked the court to stay his sentencing pending a judicial review of his conviction by the National Court.

However, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia refused the stay order, ruling that there was no suggestion of prejudice and that Maladina had been afforded a fair trial.

The Post Courier reports Sir Salamo saying that Maladina is able to appeal his sentencing if he is found to have been wrongly convicted and sentenced.