Gamato’s recent arrest related to Menyamya election

ELECTORAL Commissioner Patilias Gamato clarified yesterday that his arrest on Tuesday in Port Moresby was related to the Menyamya by-election in May.
He said it had nothing to do with the official corruption charges relating to the 2017 general election that he was facing in the Waigani Committal Court.
“My arrest yesterday (Tuesday) had got nothing to do with my substantive matter before the Waigani Committal Court. (It has nothing to do) with interfering with state witnesses,” Gamato said.
He said he was taken to the Boroko police station on Tuesday over the appointment of the returning officer in the Menyamya by-election won by People’s National Congress Party candidate Benjamin Philip.
He explained that Alwynn Jimmy had been appointed the returning officer by deputy electoral commissioner Corporate Services John Kalamoroh during his leave of absence.
When he returned to work, he appointed Nande Awape as returning officer for the Menyamya by-election “using powers conferred on me as Electoral Commissioner under the Organic Law on National and LLG Elections”.
He said he had to revoke the appointment of Jimmy because he was “on the retrenchment list”.
Gamato was arrested last year on allegations of official corruption involving the election manager for the National Capital District Terence Hetinu in 2017.
Hetinu and another electoral official were arrested on June 27, 2017 after police allegedly found K184,300 in cash and marked ballot papers on them.
The incident delayed polling in Port Moresby and prompted Gamato to sack them.