Produce journals, polling staff told

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

A COURT has ordered that the journals of three presiding officers and two Electoral Commission forms be produced in a case against Lae Lord Mayor, Koim Trilu Leahy.

The journal is a diary kept by presiding officers at a polling booth and records voter tally, dates, timings, and general observation of the voting atmosphere. 

The EC Form 66 (a) contains information about first preferences votes. Form 66 (b) contains information about the elimination process. 

Former Mayor James Khay took Leahy to court alleging “undue influence and illegal practices” during his victory in the recent local level government elections. 

In a hearing yesterday in the court of disputed returns in Lae, Khay’s lawyer Roselyn Kot asked the court if the journals and forms could be provided to them by the commission.

The Electoral Commission said it would provide the documents as requested before the next hearing. 

Magistrate Martin Ipang directed that the documents be provided. He listed the matter for Oct 22.

Kot said they were crucial materials in their case. 

In his petition, Khay alleged that Leahy and his agents had controlled polling booths, influenced voters and marked ballot papers in three polling stations in West Taraka. 

Khay identified the areas where the alleged illegal activities took place as polling stations 46, 47 and 48 – all in the West Taraka area where Leahy’s stronghold was.

The alleged incident was said to have occurred on July 10, according to Khay’s petition.