Hela election manager charged with forgery

POLICE in Port Moresby arrested Hela election manager John Tipa on Wednesday and charged him with forgery and uttering.
Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Dranou said Tipa was arrested by the Fraud unit in Boroko.
According to information obtained from police, Form 66B (mandatory declaration form) used for declaring the Hela regional seat in this year’s national election was not signed by the runner-up (Francis Potape) candidate’s scrutineer.
Tipa’s refusal to cooperate with police during his arrest resulted in a confrontation where N’Dranou said police had to use reasonable force.
N’Dranou said police refused bail but it was up to the courts to decide.