Court to rule RO’s case

A COURT will determine whether an election official accused of breaching the counting process for the Angoram Open seat in East Sepik has been charged appropriately.
Wewak Court magistrate Francis Fingu made the ruling after Angoram returning officer John Kambak appeared for mention yesterday.
Magistrate Fingu also extended Kambak’s bail which he said would allow Kambak to return the writ before the formation of government.
He adjourned the matter to Sept 1 for a ruling.
It was alleged that during the process of counting the ballot boxes for the Angoram seat, Kambak failed to conduct ballot returns and quality checks with scrutineers, to balance the figures.
Kambak was also allegedly involved in the handling of a ballot box from Karawari village to Wewak and back.
East Sepik police commander Supt Albert Beli said earlier that the alleged incident was reported on Friday by the five candidates contesting the Angoram seat.
“Candidate Charles Andrew and four other intending candidates reported the incident which led to the arrest of the returning officer,” he said.
Beli added that the alleged incident occurred on July 17 at the Angoram counting centre.

Candidate moves to stop Kabwum declaration

By BEVERLY PETER
THE National Court will rule tomorrow whether to stop any declaration for the Kabwum open in the General Election 2022 (GE22).
This follows the application by Kabwum open candidate Hearing Qoreka through his lawyer Mark Alu before Judge Joseph Yagi at the Waigani National Court yesterday.
Alu said they sought to restrain the Electoral Commission, Commissioner Simon Sinai and its agents from declaring an MP for Kabwum pending the case.
“This is because 60 per cent of the ballot papers for the electorate were burnt,” he said.
Alu said Qoreka and others were concerned the EC would declare a winner despite this glaring issue.
He said EC, Sinai, Kabwum open returning officer Keteng Ondop and Morobe election manager Simon Soheke were aware that the electorate’s ballot papers were burnt on July 17 but took no measures to ensure the an equitable outcome was reached.
Alu added that the EC had not acted immediately on section 96 (A) of the Organic Law.
State lawyer Russel Uware who represented the EC and Sinai, however, said that the application was an abuse of process as the election process was still ongoing.

Assistant returning officer resigns from post on medical grounds

By PETER WARI
SOUTHERN Highlands provincial assistant returning officer Joseph Timothy tendered his resignation on Friday on medical grounds.
Timothy said the stress and pressure placed on election officials from all stakeholders in the General Election 2022 (GE22) had affected them in different ways and his health had been impacted.
“Sadly I am resigning based on medical grounds,” he said.
“My body may not be able to continue to cope with the pressure, restlessness and stress of this election and I have also an underlining medical history.”
Timothy thanked the PNG Electoral Commission for its confidence and entrusting him with the electoral duty.
He acknowledged his fellow electoral officials and scrutineers and others who had contributed to ensuring the election in the province had been trouble-free.
Timothy wished them all the best in completing the election process for the province.
SHP election manager Alwin Jimmy confirmed Timothy’s resignation and thanked him for his service to the province.