Several detectives, dressed in plain clothes, arrested David Dataona after he walked out of a court room in Port Moresby yesterday, ABC news reports.

It is alleged Dataona tried to bribe a police officer into signing legal documents that recognised his client, Fred Yakasa, as the police commissioner.

The move came after Yakasa went to court seeking orders that he is the legitimate police chief because Sir Michael Somare appointed him to the position. Somare claims he is PNG's legitimate prime minister after the Supreme Court ordered his reinstatement to the position.

But the effective prime minister is Peter O'Neill. He currently has the support of most MPs and the public service, including the police, ABC News reports.