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WHILE 12 unattended cases will be heard
today by Justice Mark Sevua, other petitions heard last week have been
fixed for pre-trial conferences or return for directions hearings later
this week and next week.
These fixed election petitions include the matter of Alfred Luke Manase
against returned Kandep MP Don Pom Polye next Wednesday at the Waigani
National Court for a pre-trial conference.
Last Wednesday, the court extended time for both parties for document
filing purposes even though it was the last day of filing.
However, because of the urgency of the matter, the court allowed them an
extended 14 days to finish filing in documents needed for the hearing.
Also last week, Rimbink Pato managed to successfully gain extra time
from the court to file any other documents to court before the
returnable date.
Mr Pato’s petition is disputing the elections in the Wapenamanda Open in
Enga province and has named declared winner Miki Kaeok as a respondent.
Last week, Mr Kaeok’s lawyer took issue of non-service and applied for
dismissal of the petition pursuant to Rule 18 of the amended Election
Petition Rules, but the court overruled the application and allowed the
petition to proceed for a pre-trial conference.
Another election petition heard last week was of losing candidate of
Okapa Open in Eastern Highlands Orie Ovako Juvire against Bonny Oveyara
and others, but has been adjourned for another directions hearing next
week.
Mr Juvire is seeking court orders declaring 567 ballot papers cast as
informal on claims that marked the said cast ballot papers wrongly.
These alleged informal votes are from the ballot box 47 of Siri Haigi
Junction.
An order has already been granted for a container with all the ballot
boxes and papers used to be locked up in Goroka.
Next Wednesday, the pre-trial conference for Steven Kama against South
Bougainville MP Michael Laimo convenes at the Waigani National Court.
Mr Laimo is being alleged of illegal practices and errors and omissions
that occurred during the elections period.
Also Bire Kimisopa’s pre-trial conference is set for a later date after
the matter came for a direction hearing last Tuesday.
Mr Kimisopa has mounted bribery allegations against Goroka MP Thompson
Haroquaveh.
Meanwhile, Paias Wingti’s directions hearing is set for tomorrow, where
he is challenging Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga’s election on
allegations of irregularities in counting of ballots.
 
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