The charges relate to payments that Justice Sakora allegedly collected through inflated legal bills from Paul Paraka Lawyers, a law firm accused of defrauding the PNG government. According to police, Justice Sakora accepted a 100,000 kina ($45,000) payment from the law firm in 2009.
Justice Sakora has presided over several cases involving Paul Paraka Lawyers. In 2010, he issued an injunction in favour of the firm and former solicitor-general Zacchary Gelu which banned the implementation and publication of a Commission of Inquiry report into the fraudulent bills the firm charged to the PNG government. In February, the judge also issued a stay order blocking the arrest of PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, who is accused of authorising a $30m payment to the law firm.
PNG National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate director Matthew Damaru has confirmed that Justice Sakora denies receiving untoward payments from the law firm.
Source: The Australasian Lawyer
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