Exposé goes viral on social media

 A COVERTLY-filmed footage of two lawyers interviewed by an operative from a non-government organisation in Australia has gone viral on social media.

The footage was shown on Australian television network SBS on Tuesday night on its Dateline programme.

The two lawyers were secretly filmed allegedly offering advice on how a person could send large amounts of money overseas to bribe PNG politicians.

Social media commentators in Papua New Guinea who had watched the programme called on authorities to investigate the allegations.

Most had expressed shock at what they saw, immediately linking it to accusations about the lack of balance in the distribution of wealth and proceeds from imports.

A few comments went along the line of “lies” and “confusion”, saying the allegations could have “opened a can of worms” which should not be ignored by authorities.

Lawyers Greg Sheppard and Harvey Maladina, who are partners of Young and Williams Lawyers, yesterday denied any wrongdoing.

Sheppard, who also practises in Australia and a former Queen’s Counsel, told The National yesterday that his comments to the undercover operative from the non-government organisation were “general, hypothetical and merely descriptive”. 

Sheppard had told the operative, posing as a businessman, that the “only way” to bribe foreign politicians and avoid getting caught was to pay “small dribs and drabs” disguised as commercial transactions.

Maladina said the allegations were not true. It is believed that a copy of the video had been provided to Australian police.