However, Opposition politicians supported Singirok and accused "foreign interests" of trying to meddle in PNG affairs and to influence the formation of the new government when Parliament sits next week.
Opposition Deputy Leader Simon Kaumi alleged that the publication of information about Singirok's private account and Visa card account with Lloyds Bank in London was a "provocative attempt by foreign interests to meddle in the political affairs and sovereignty of Papua New Guinea".
He added: "I question the morality and sincerity of such publication and the intent of its authors."
He said it would be interesting to find out how much confidential client-customer information was made available to people in the media, for what reasons the information was disclosed "and who was involved".
Singirok's lawyer said it appeared the revelations were linked to a "vendetta" against the former general because of his action in blocking the Sandline deal. He added that as Singirok was no longer the military chief he was not subject to action by the Ombudsman Commission.
Singirok himself appealed to members of Parliament to not let the report affect their minds, and to refuse to support current coalition members in the new government and to press for a full investigation.
"I am not afraid, I will not hide my sins," he said. "But the bigger picture is that the bigger players must also not hide their sins."
He said that if members of the Chan government remained in office, they would act to prevent any further investigation into the Sandline scandal.
Commenting on the Weekend Australian's report about Singirok, the National described it as a "sad and sorry epitaph" on an attempt to "reveal conduct at least scandalous, and at worst corrupt" by the some national leaders.
"[The reported] facts make it clear that former Brigadier-General Jerry Singirok had a London-based account with better than A$70,000 credit; that those funds were by a well-known firm of international arms dealers; and that Mr Singirok made use of the funds in that account by Visa Card," the National said.
"Few folk heroes have bank accounts with better than K70,000 in them, and fewer serving military officers have "personal relationships" with international arms dealers."
The newspaper said Singirok must tell Papua New Guineans why the deposits were made in an account bearing his name and why arms dealer Sydney Franklin made the payments.
"The ordinary citizens of this nation, those who saw Mr Singirok as some form of saviour of the country, deserve nothing less than the truth." - APN
David Robie is a New Zealand journalist and author specialising in Pacific affairs. He is currently lecturer in journalism at the University of Papua New Guinea.
