Election hiccups

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE have taken in 32 people for questioning over “suspicious” activities during the Moresby North-West by-election over the weekend, with one man carrying more than K3,000 in cash. On Friday, two individuals were caught voting twice – one was at the PNG Education Institute and the other at the Boreboa Primary School. They were in custody at the Boroko police station last night. Also on Friday, police and election officials were alerted about a group of 26 people who arrived in a bus from Moresby-South, with one of them carrying K3,095 in cash. The 26 were taken to the Gerehu Police Station for questioning. They told police that a man had told them to get on the bus and to cast their vote in Gerehu.

They were released after questioning by police. Yesterday morning, four men were taken in by police after they were found to be acting suspiciously and had in their possession official papers belonging to the Electoral Commission. Port Moresby Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said “the four men remain in police custody for investigation to determine and electoral law breaches”. “The papers found in their possession will identify what was to be done or was about to be done,” he said. The four were found at the counting site around 2am yesterday. A scrutineer who wanted to remain anonymous told The National that the four men were in a tinted blue vehicle and were seen several times on Saturday evening driving in and out of the counting area. “They kept going in and out,” the scrutineer said. “We became suspicious of their intent so we stopped the vehicle and asked them what they were doing there when they drove in again at 2am. “They refused to tell us but we insisted. “Police noticed the commotion and came to see what was happening.” The four men were taken to the Hohola police station where they were detained. Zone Commander Fred Tundu talked to supporters and candidates who turned up at the station to see the four men. The four are now at the Boroko police station. Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai told The National that some of the election officials “must have come in the night which was suspicious”. “The forms they were holding are engagement forms for the counting,” he said. “I don’t know how they (got hold of the forms). “That is subject to police investigation.” Sinai said they had 136 teams with nine electoral commission officials, and that the voting “is done and gone, locked and sealed”. “Now is the time for sorting out counting officials in readiness for the count,” Sinai said. “The Returning Officer is finalising the list for counting. He is operating out of the Sir John Guise Stadium.” Counting is expected to start today. Polling stations were closed around 3pm. Some voters claimed their names were no longer in the common roll.  Their names were there allowing them to vote in the 2017 general election. The by-election is to elect a Moresby North-West MP to replace the late Sir Mekere Morauta.