Court sets date for Imbonggu case

 The National Court has set Aug 5-9 as the trial date for the election petition case for the Imbonggu Open electorate in Southern Highlands.

Justice Colin Makail set the date last Friday after several dates were proposed to him by lawyers representing the parties in the case.

Petitioner Pila Niningi, who is challenging the 2012 election victory of Francis Awesa, was represented by lawyer Jeffrey Kennedy of Jema Lawyers. Niningi was present in court.

Imbonggu MP and Works Minister Awesa was represented by Adam Ninkama of Paul Paraka Lawyers while Himson Viogo of Niugini Legal Practice represented the PNG Electoral Commission.

The three lawyers had proposed different trial dates, including dates proposed earlier by the trial judge, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

Sir Salamo had advised Makail to inform lawyers and their clients of his proposed dates, which were from July 22-26. 

Kennedy agreed to that date but Ninkama and Viogo did not because it was not convenient for them and their clients.

Makail said it was difficult to find a trial judge to hear the petitions as there were not enough judges. He asked the lawyers to come up with a date that would also be convenient to the chief justice.

Makail, who is administering election petitions arising from the last elections, said assigning judges to hear election petition cases had been always difficult and that they (lawyers) have to set dates that would also suit Sir Salamo as well, as the chief justice was appointed to hear that particular case by Makail.

While striking the balance between several proposed dates of trial, the judge said the court needed to attend to all election cases in a timely manner.