Adultery case against

THE adultery case against Sandaun Governor Simon Solo and his alleged lover, Anna Ivara, was struck out by the Port Moresby Family Court after it found that the complainant, Emmanuel Vali, had ended her de facto relationship with Ms Ivara prior to her relationship with the governor.
Mr Solo and Ms Ivara were taken to court in September by Mr Vali, Ms Ivara’s husband for seven years and the father of her three children.
Ms Ivara and Mr Vali hail from Central province.
Mr Vali had accused Ms Vali and Mr Solo of having unlawful voluntary sexual intercourse, contrary to the Adultery and Enticement Act.
Mr Vali, who is unemployed, claimed in court that his wife was lured with money by Mr Solo, who allegedly made her pregnant.
Mr Vali told the court that the well-being of his family was affected when his wife and children went off to live with the MP at a house in Laloki outside Port Moresby.
But the defendant’s lawyer, Tonny Waisi of Waisi Lawyers, argued that the marital relationship between Mr Vali and Ms Ivara had ended in mid-2007 and they had no subsisting relationship when the matter was taken to court.
Mr Waisi argued that Mr Vali had no cause of action or right to pursue the matter in court as he and Ms Ivara had a de facto relationship, adding that Ms Ivara was free at the time to establish a new relationship.
The court, presided by magistrate Pauline Stegman, was satisfied with Mr Waisi’s submission and ordered that the matter be struck out.
She also ruled that the District Court had no jurisdiction to restrain the existing relationship between Mr Solo and Ms Ivara.
This means that the duo can continue to live as husband and wife.