Rigo AROs referred to NCD police

By AILEEN KWARAGU
TWO assistant returning officers (AROs) in Central who were caught in possession of bullets and a set of police uniforms at the Bomana Correctional Services counting centre on Tuesday have been referred to the city police, police say.
Provincial police commander John Midi said yesterday that two Rigo AROs were referred to the National Capital District (NCD) Investigation Task Force for further investigation.
“Police have questioned them and they did not provide any lawful excuse or reasons for being in possession of the items,” he said.
“Central police referred the case to NCD police through a mutual understanding and consultation with assistant commissioner of Police for NCD/Central Anthony Wagambie Jr.”
Midi said the case was transferred as the offences were committed within NCD police’s jurisdiction.
He clarified that the referral was for transparency and neutrality.
On Tuesday, candidates and scrutineers petitioned the Electoral Commission requesting the two arrested to be investigated and not allowed to the counting venue.
Despite the petition, counting for Rigo open had started yesterday and is expected to continue today.

Central counting picks up after slow start

FIVE electorates in Central have started counting while Goilala is yet to extract its last 10 ballot boxes to Port Moresby.
Police commander Superintendent John Midi described counting in Central as a “push start” affair with a late start to counting.
He said the Kairuku electorate started counting this week at Murray Barracks, while the newly established Hiri-Koiari electorate had administrative issues with space, chairs and issuing of identification cards for scrutineers.
However, counting for Kairuku, Hiri-Koiari, Abau and Rigo has been progressing and is expected to be completed before the return of writs on July 29.
Abau returning officer (RO)Collin Lama said they anticipated completing counting before the deadline, but it would depend on scrutineers and candidates.
Lama said a total of six ballot boxes from the Amazon Bay area were already counted.
He said since counting started they realised a need for more counting officials apart from the 156 already in place.
Meanwhile, Goilala RO Theodore Maia said counting for Goilala was expected to begin over the weekend.

Bogia candidate arrested for taking ballot papers

POLICE in Madang have arrested a Bogia Open candidate for threatening a presiding officer and unlawfully taking 126 ballot papers out of a polling booth.
Madang provincial police commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang said the 54-year-old candidate from Munumat village in Bogia allegedly took the ballot papers and shared them among his family and supporters to vote.
He said on June 11, the polling team number 12 of Almami local level government (LLG) completed polling at Yakiba and Sarawat villages and walked to Dogodogo.
Rubiang said the supporters of the candidate confronted the polling team, threatened them and took away the sealed ballot boxes.
He said that on the following day, the supporters of the candidate returned to Dogodogo and threatened the people not to go to Marusupa village which resulted in a fight between the two villages.
Rubiang said that the supporters of the accused then left and kept the sealed ballot papers until July 14.
On July 14, Bogia returning officer Cyril Ketau arrived at Murusupu village and allowed polling to continue.
He added that the polling team had felt threatened and the presiding officer signed all the 126 ballot papers.

Tindipu elected MP for new Komo-Hulia electorate

By REBECCA KUKU
PROFESSIONAL surveyor Daniel Tindipu, elected the first MP of the new Komo-Hulia electorate in Hela, plans to use a bottom-up approach in developing the area.
Tindipu, who contested the seat under the Pangu Pati banner, polled 12,788 votes, well past the absolute majority of 12,489.
His nearest rival was PNG National Party candidate Tukuyawini Peter Philip with 12,189 votes.
“I would like to thank the people of Komo-Hulia for having confidence in me and invite them to work with me to (develop) our electorate,” he said.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu looks forward to working with the new MP.
“We have many plans that we have talked about, to connect Komo-Hulia to the rest of the province,” he said.
Hela completed elections for its five seats with Undialu retaining his seat as governor, Prime Minister and Pangu Pati leader James Marape also retaining his seat, Manasseh Makiba again as Margarima MP, Tindipu for Komo-Hulia and William Bando as Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP.