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OUTGOING governor Wari Vele has filed a petition in the National
Court challenging the election of Powes Parkop as member for the
National Capital District.
In the papers filed in court, Mr Vele claims Mr Parkop was a
serving member of the PNG Defence Force, and continued to be a
serving member of the force after he had nominated to contest the
elections.
According to the court papers, Mr Parkop continued to draw
salaries from the Defence Force until July 18, when the last
salary was paid into his bank account.
Filed as evidence were pay slips and salary advices showing the
PNGDF paying salaries to Major Powes Parkop.
Mr Vele claims in the petition that by continuing to be a member
of the force, after nominating to contest the elections, Mr Parkop
had rendered himself ineligible and not qualified to be a
candidate for the election under section 67(1)(a) of the Defence
Act chapter No.74 of the revised laws of PNG.
Mr Vele said in the court papers that Mr Parkop was enlisted into
the army on Oct 13, 2004, but failed to resign prior to
nomination, or failed to apply to be transferred to the reserve
force of the PNGDF before nominating.
Mr Vele is seeking a declaration that Parkop’s election be
declared null and void, and that he be declared as duly elected,
or that a fresh election be held..
The National Court has set Aug 30 as the date for a pre-trial
hearing.
In the elections, Mr Parkop polled 43,533 votes to unseat Mr Vele
who polled 32,035 votes.
Mr Parkop has said that he had to be enlisted as a reserve to be
paid money for services he had rendered to the army during the
Sandline crisis in 1997.
He said he has instructed his lawyers to fight the petition.
 
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