Mul to take Pok’s win to court

FORMER member for North Waghi open Benjamin Mul has given notice he will challenge the win of Dr Fabian Pok in the court of disputed returns.
Mul in a media conference yesterday in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, alleged that security personnel involved in the elections interfered with the process to give away the win to Pok.
Mul alleged further in a signed press statement that security personnel used gun butts, pan belts and other brute force against counting officials to count a disputed box from Kendu 2.
Mul alleged that on July 22, during the counting the police and defence officers stormed the counting venue and forced the counting officials to count the votes in the disputed box.
He said that as soon as the returning officer and assistant returning officers advised the security officers that this particular box was disputed and set aside, the security officers attacked them with gun butts, fan belts and physical force and forced the counting officials to count the box.
He said the Electoral Commissioner sent his lawyer, Andrew Kongri, to Banz counting venue and gave his site report.
Kongri advised Commissioner Andrew Trawen three days later to have the 1,600 ballot papers removed, but that never eventuated.
Mul said the out of the 1,600 ballot papers, he collected one primary vote while Captain Peter Ansphil collected five with the rest going to Dr Pok.
He said that he would ask the court to decide who the legitimate winner is.
Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander Supt Simon Nigi said after the polling in Jiwaka that Tupa was not a gazetted polling area.