Top cop, Awesa warned of bench warrants

BENCH warrants will be issued against Assistant Police Commissioner Jim Andrews, Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa and his daughter in-law Grace Nindil Awesa if they fail to appear in the Waigani National Court on Monday for contempt charges.The three were charged with contempt after they allegedly interfered with the counting of ballot papers for Piambil Two on July 5 at the Momei Oval in Mendi, Southern Highlands province.
The court orders, issued on June 28 by Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika, read:
lPolice and defence force officers are restrained from interfering with the ballot boxes for the Imbonggu open electorate; andlThe Electoral Commission is the sole authority on whether or not to count ballot papers in ballot boxes for the above electorate.