Polling team, cop suspended

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A POLLING team and a policeman have been suspended for allegedly rigging votes in the Tsitalato constituency of North Bougainville in the region’s government elections, the Bougainville electoral commissioner says.
“This team of five polling officers and a policeman have been suspended (on Monday) and are now under investigation for allegedly giving out marked-out ballot papers to voters to just cast them into the ballot box at Lonahan on Buka Island,” commissioner George Manu said.
“Another polling team has replaced them to complete the polls at that venue.”
Manu said vote-rigging allegations were revealed when a candidate of that constituency went to vote and the polling officers gave him a ballot paper that was already marked out and told him to cast it into the ballot box.
“The candidate was surprised and raised concern to my office and I suspended that polling team from further participation in the elections.”
Manu said also in Tsitalato constituency there were allegations that the assistant returning officer (ARO) at Novah Primary School was exchanging full ballot boxes on Friday morning.
“He was also suspected of transporting the ballot boxes to Buka town without the scrutineers’ presence in the evening. However, upon conducting investigations, we found out that the ARO was only giving out empty ballot boxes for the presiding officer to use for voters to cast their votes into.
“So let me put records straight.
“There was never a ballot box transported in the car.
“And I will only deal with allegations that have evidence.
“I will not waste my time on mere allegations.
“Let’s take ownership of our elections and not spread false information.”
Meanwhile, Bougainville police commander Deputy Commissioner Francis Tokura confirmed that the police officer allegedly involved in vote-rigging at Lonahan was removed from election duty.
“Also the policeman accused of transporting ballot boxes at Novah Primary School with the ARO has been ordered to give his report so that we can corroborate it the witnesses’ statement.”