Pok wins case as court throws out election challenge

The Waigani National Court has dismissed an election petition disputing the returns from North Waghi seat in Jiwaka in last year’s elections.
Judge Frazer Pitpit said the court was satisfied that the petition failed to comply with mandatory requirements of the form of the petition (form 1) under the election petitions rules.
Justice Pitpit said that non-compliance of section 208 and 209 of the Organic Law on National and Provincial and Local Level Government Elections prohibited the petitions from going to trial.
“Strict compliance of the election petition rules must be considered by the petitioner because election petitions are very serious challenges in the court of disputed returns,” he said.
The court was also satisfied that the petitioner had failed to plead sufficient facts in the petition to support the grounds.
The petition was filed by a candidate, Mond Palme, against Petroleum Minister Dr Fabian Pok, the former defence minister, and the Electoral Commission on Sept 1.
The petition raised allegations of bribery by the first respondent and his supporters on two occasions in Banz, Jiwaka, on May 27 and June 14 last year.
The petition also alleged errors and omissions during centralised polling at the Singarok Barracks for six ballot boxes, and illegal practices.
The court upheld the objections made by Pok challenging the competency of the petition.
Pok, after the ruling, told The National on Tuesday that he welcomed the court’s decision and he was looking forward to attending the Petroleum and Energy Summit inj Port Moresby this week.