By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Supreme and National Court Judge, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, and Principal of Twivey Lawyers, Tiffany Twivey, appeared before the Waigani Committal Court this morning.
Justice Sir Bernard was charged with one count of judicial corruption while Twivey charged, with one count of preventing the course of justice.
Both were arrested, questioned and charged on Monday afternoon by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Squad.
This is the first time in the history of Papua New Guinea, for a Supreme Court judge to be arrested and charged.
Both defendants appeared before magistrate John Kaumi with two different lawyers representing them.
Lohani Henoa representing Justice Sir Bernard Sakora and Greg Sheppard appearing for Ms Twivey.
Justice Sir Bernard Sakora’s case was heard first and later Twivey’s.
In the first case, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora’s lawyer asked the court to instruct police to compile all court documen’s and submit a copy to his client before May 4.
However, the court heard that three months was the normal time frame given to police to compile documen’s.
And magistrate Kaumi told the Supreme Court Judge that police will work within that given time to prepare court files.
This case is in relation to allegations, that Justice Sir Bernard Sakora received K100,000 from a lawyer through a company in 2009.
In Twivey’s case, her lawyer asked the courts for similar instructions.
But magistrate Kaumi said police will give an update on the progress of the investigations when the case returns to court on May 4.
Their K1,000 bail has also been extended.
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