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| Kandep vote count illegal, say witnesses | |
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By JACOB POK COUNTING of ballot papers for the Kandep Open seat during last year’s election had involved many illegal practices caused by the electoral officials, a witness has claimed. Mathew Lale, a witness called by petitioner Alfred Manase, told the National Court in Mt Hagen yesterday that officials did not follow proper procedures during the counting of ballot papers for the Kandep Open seat. He claimed that most of the boxes for Pura ward 1 and Wincha 1 and 2 had no serial tags on but the officials he claimed to be Don Polye’s supporters proceeded with the counting. Mr Lale said that the Kandep district returning officer ordered a fast count of the ballot papers and told objecting scrutineers to get a court order. Mr Manase is disputing the election of Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye as MP for Kandep. He is alleging errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission and supporters of Mr Polye. Another witness, Eddie Dickson, told the court that he was punched on the face by one of Mr Polye’s supporters at Kaip village when he tried to stop vehicles that were taking polling materials away. Mr Dickson alleged that on July 3 three vehicles which he claimed belonged to Mr Polye reached Kaip village with ballot boxes and polling materials. He alleged that the vehicle did not deliver the boxes to the waiting crowd but instead took the boxes all the way to Kau Village and the ballot papers were illegally signed in favour of Mr Polye by the polling officials. Mr Dickson told the court that polling usually took place at Kaip Village and not at Kau where the boxes were transported to. When Mr Polye’s lawyer asked him about the number of people who were in Kiap village when the ballot boxes arrived, he said there were roughly 30 to 40 people. Mr Dickson said there was no proper polling and most people did not exercise their right to vote. The trial continues today. |
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