Supreme Court Judge Sakora and Lawyer Twivey arrested and charged

PM O'Neill's Lawyer Tiffany Twivey arrested and charged

One of Papua New Guinea's most senior judge, has been arrested over a charge of corruption.

National and Supreme Court judge, Sir Bernard Sakora was arrested at his home this yesterday morning and charged with one count of judicial corruption.

A member of the anti- corruption fraud squared who wish to remain anonymous told NBC news, the Judge was brought to Police Head Quarter and was interrogated for several hours then was brought to Boroko Police Cell just after midday.

Assistant Police Commissioner and Divisional Commander Central/ NCD Sylvester Kalaut confirm, Judge Bernard Sakora was released on a One- Thousand Kina bail.

"As per the major incident brief, yes it was alleged that he received a payment of One- Hundred -Thousand through a company called the P-K-P Nominees Limited."

Kalaut in his brief stated the charge was related to a payment Judge Sakora received from a lawyer at the centre of the scandal surrounding alleged illegal payments to the firm Paraka Lawyers.

After that, members of PNG Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate moved swiftly to arrest another senior Lawyer late this afternoon (Mon. 11.04.16) in Port Moresby.

Tiffany Twivey, the principal of Twivey Lawyers was arrested upon her arrival from Brisbane at the Jackson's International Airport.

Ms. Twivey had been acting as the lawyer for Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, and other Government ministers and senior bureaucrats in various court cases over the years.

According to a member of the Fraud Squad, Twivey was brought to the Police Headquarter at Konedobu and interrogated for an hour, then later brought to the Boroko Police Cell.

She was charged with one count for attempting to pervert course of justice.

Police say, Twiveys arrest relates to the scandal surrounding the purchase of a 50-million Kina generator set, currently used by PNG Power to generate electricity in Port Moresby.

Boroko Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector, Brian Kombe confirmed to NBC News, that Twivey was released on a 1-thousand Kina bail.

Both are expected to appear in Court.

NBC News/ PNG Today