Trappe remains Mul-Baiyer MP

AN election petition filed against Mul-Baiyer MP Koi Trappe has been dismissed.
The Waigani Court of Disputed Returns yesterday ruled that the petitioner had failed to comply with court directions, and had the matter dismissed.
Former parliamentarian Sani Rambi had challenged Trappe’s 2012 election victory for the open seat in Wes­tern Highlands, alleging bribery and undue influence.
Court documents showed that the petitioner was required to file and serve his affidavits by Oct 26 while the defence was to response by Nov 16.
Submitting that the petitioner had filed to meet the required timeline, Trappe had then applied for the petition to be dismissed.
The defence had also argued that Kuman Lawyers had stopped acting for the petitioner on Nov 12 because of lack of instructions from the petitioner to advance the matter.
Judge administrator of election petitions Justice Colin Makail said non-compliance with court orders or directions was a show of disrespect to the court and was contemptuous, and it should not be taken as a simple or technical failure.
The court noted that petitioner did not deny that Trappe had served him affidavits.