Security forces confiscate K14,000 from polling centre

By ZACHERY PER
MORE than K13,000 in cash was confiscated from the Chimbu counting centre at the Dixon Oval in Kundiawa this week, according to police.
Chimbu provincial police commander Supt Augustine Wampe said the money, believed to be used for bribing counting officials, was brought into the venue by two men from Sinasina-Yongomugl.
He said members of the joint security force acted on a tip-off and searched the vehicle hired by the Electoral  Commission. They found K13,900 in cash.
The vehicle was used for transporting ballot boxes between the counting centre and Kundiawa police station where they were locked up in metal containers.
“The two men were stopped at about 3pm on Tuesday at the counting centre as they were entering the counting venue,” Wampe said.
“The driver of the vehicle claimed the money belonged to him. But this could not be believed because such a huge amount of money being carried around the counting venue is highly suspicious.”
Wampe said the two men would appear before the Kundiawa District Court to answer charges relating to possession of huge sums of money around counting venues where a sensitive electoral activity was being conducted.Wampe appealed to candidates and their supporters not to interfere with the counting process as people had already cast their votes.
He urged candidates to remain calm and not intimidate electoral commission officials.
He warned that the law would come down hard on them.
The elimination process of the counting is nearing completion.
Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang maintained his lead with12,473 votes at exclusion 13 yesterday.