Sinai ordered to provide evidence

By BEVERLY PETER
JUDGE Joseph Yagi has ordered electoral commissioner Simon Sinai to serve former acting Hagen Open returning officer (RO) Amose Noifa with the evidence of his decision on appointing Paias Nop as the new RO.
“Since there is a new development on the case, the evidence of the appointment must be served to the parties before the matter returns for further mention on Friday,” Justice Yagi said.
He said this was to allow the lawyers of the parties to get clarification on Nop’s appointment and instructions from their clients.
Sinai’s lawyer Lasen Tangua confirmed that Sinai had appointed Nop as the RO last Thursday.
The former duly appointed Hagen Open RO Willie Ropa’s lawyer Andrew Kuria said he heard about Nop’s appointment but it would be proper for Sinai to provide appointment documents by way of affidavit in order to confirm it.
Noifa’s lawyer Isaac Emmanuel said the appointment could be rumour and word of mouth unless the formal notice of appointment was presented.
“If that’s the case and a notice of appointment is served, I might consider filing a discontinuation application on the next mention,” Emmanuel said.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing Attorney-General Pila Niningi for the State said Sinai had power under the national and local level government Act to appoint and he has done that.
“No one should be interfering with the job of the person who is entrusted to do the job under the law,” he said.
Tanuvasa in addressing media outside court said the Attorney-General’s Department was working closely with the Electoral Commission to help with legal advice in order to deliver a fair general election.