EC officers charged with marking ballot papers

National

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
TWO PNG Electoral Commission officers have been charged with marking ballot papers for their preferred candidate and stuffing them into ballot boxes in a remote area of the Komo-Margarima electorate in Hela.
Provincial police commander Superintendent Michael Welly claimed: “The presiding officer and his assistant presiding officer had given K10,000 to leaders and voters there as bribe and went ahead with their business of marking the papers themselves at a polling booth at Hirupaia  Awi Lagau local level government area last week”.
Welly said after completing polling in that area, they got on a helicopter with the ballot boxes and arrived at Tari Airport on Friday.
“However, the Security Forces waited for them at the airport after getting tip-offs from the scrutineers.
“They then arrested them and brought them to the Tari police station where they were charged under Criminal Code Act  section  110 (1)”.
Welly said the pair were detained and were expected to  appear in the Tari District Court this week.