Court rejects move to delay petition case

NATIONAL Court in Waigani yesterday rejected an application by Kandep MP Don Polye to move his election petition trial to June.
The application was made by Polye’s (first respondent) lawyer on grounds that the country was facing a fuel crisis and planes were grounded.
As a result, his witnesses could not fly to Port Moresby and the continuous tribal fights in Wabag has also restricted his witnesses from coming.
Judge Sir Kina Bona in rejecting the application said there was no evidence before the court to support the application and it was based on mere speculation.
Sir Kina said there was no reason why Polye could not bring in his witnesses.
“The first respondent is a current member of parliament, a minister and he is in the government. He is in a better position to bring in his witnesses without delay,” Sir Kina said.
He said the petitioner’s (Alfred Manase) witnesses were flown to Port Moresby from Kandep to attend trial and were safely back.
He added that the court had no intention to delay trial and gave Polye until Monday to bring in his witnesses and proceed with the trial.
Meanwhile, the petitioner’s application to restrain Polye’s supporters from threatening, harassing and intimidating his witnesses was granted.
This came about when reports reached the petitioner that there was alleged burning down of his witnesses’ houses in Lakalap.