Kandep election result delayed

**Petitioner and former Kandep MP Don Polye and his supporters leaving the Waigani court house yesterday. – Nationalpic by JOEL HAMARI**

By BOURA GORUKILA
DECLARATION of the result for the Kandep Open judicial recount was delayed further because the court has to deal with an application by MP Alfred Manase (first respondent) challenging their validity.
The application filed on April 1 by way of a notice of motion was granted leave by presiding judge Justice David Cannings in the National Court yesterday.
Justice Cannings fixed Tuesday (April 13) for hearing of the motion.
He also directed that the first respondent should file and serve further affidavits supporting the notice of motion on all parties by tomorrow, all parties to file and serve response by midday on Monday.
He also affirmed his orders that returning officer (RO) Rev Tom Sine should not leave the National Capital District without the leave of court until the matter was completed.
“When the matter was before the court this morning (yesterday) after being ordered on Saturday, April 3, to file the recount results by 4pm on Tuesday for hearing today, the lawyer for the Electoral Commission (EC) told court that the RO was sick and was unable to present the results and asked for an adjournment.”
Manase’s lawyer had no objection and concurred to the adjoument.
Polye’s lawyer objected to the adjournment, arguing that the recount was completed on March 19, which was 18 days ago, and was sufficient time for the RO to finalise the report.