Tulapi asks court to give him Kagua-Erave seat

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday August 1st, 2013

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

AN election petitioner has asked the Court of Disputed Returns to declare him winner of the Kagua-Erave seat, in Southern Highlands.

Daniel Bali Tulapi, in his submission before Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, through his lawyer Tony Waisi, said this should be done under the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government elections.

Tulapi claimed that MP Aiya James Lagea had committed bribery by offering K20,000 to election  officials at the counting centre on July 18, 2012.

Waisi told the court that Tulapi’s claim of bribery against Lagea was supported by his affidavits and those of Felix Dulupia, Barry Yomo and Martin Yomo.

The court was told that Tulapi was prompted to review the election and how Lagea conducted his campaign to win after seeing an article and a photograph of Lagea in The National on July 19, 2012.

Tulapi submitted that he had made out a case of bribery against Lagea and asked the court to nullify the MP’s victory and declare him as duly elected.

But, Lagea, through lawyer Sam Bonner, told the court that the evidence was insufficient and shallow.

He argued that Tulapi did not produce the evidence himself, adding that the evidence he was relying on came from three other persons based on an article and a photograph in The National.

Bonner submitted that the evidence was hearsay and should be rejected. Sir Salamo said he would rule on the submissions later this week.