Court rejects Duban’s appeal

By PISAI GUMAR
THE Madang National Court has rejected an application by local MP Nixon Duban to throw out an election petition against him.
Duban’s lawyer, Samson Jubi from Twivey Lawyers, submitted before Justice Les Gavara-Nanu that there was no case to answer in the petition brought by Bryan Kramer.
Kramer was runner up to Duban in the Madang open seat during the 2012 general election. Duban beat him by 544 votes.
Kramer is challenging Duban’s win on grounds of alleged bribery and undue influence.
He alleges that Duban bribed church youth members at Aufan village by handing out K50 and K100 notes.
He also alleges that Duban gave K200 to a voter at Guman village and presented a K300,000 National Gaming Board cheque to the Yagaum Rural Hospital, claiming that it was his own donation.  
Kramer also alleges that Duban made a false statement at a church annual conference at Silibob village that he had secured K7 million to upgrade their road.
But Justice Nanu dismissed the no case to answer submission.
It was the third unsuccessful attempt by Duban’s lawyers to have Kramer’s election petition dismissed. 
A trial is scheduled for April 8.