Papua New Guinea's prominent lawyer Paul Paraka has been arrested and charged with 18 offences of corruption.
Mr Paraka's legal team challenged the operation of Task Force Sweep, arguing it was unlawful and unconstitutional, but yesterday the Supreme Court threw out his appeal.
PNG Village reports that Mr Paraka will be refused bail due to the seriousness of the charges.
The police team has been investigating Mr Paraka and his firm, as well as others in the government, regarding allegations of illegal payments made to law firms by the Department of Finance.
PNG Village also reported that the head of the police operation, Sam Koim, says Jack Kilipi of Kilipi Lawyers and Kumuro Sino of Sino & Co Lawyers were also arrested in connection with the charges.
