The governor of Papua New Guinea's Madang province denies he has been evading police questioning over an alleged corruption case.
Papua New Guinea's Madang Governor Peter Yama left with the Governor of Indonesia's Papua province, Lukas Enembe in Jayapura. October 2018 Photo: Supplied
Peter Yama said he has agreed to be interviewed by police over allegations he bribed electoral officers during the 2017 general election.
The governor last month filed a human rights application in the national court to try and stay police investigations into the allegations.
Now Mr Yama is availing himself to be questioned by police in Madang, calling it a move of great humility, and a gesture of trust in local police.
The governor told RNZ Pacific last year the money he gave to two election officials was not a bribe.
He said he only helped them out as a father figure with money for food, when they were hungry and approached him.
The two election officials were convicted by the National Court, after they failed to report money they received from a candidate.
Earlier this week, PNG media reported that Mr Yama's lawyer, Ben Lomai, was to appear before the Waigani Committal Court next week on the charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The charges relate to reported attempts by Mr Lomai to prevent police interviewing and arresting Mr Yama.