There were no ballot papers found in the possession of our supporters, says National Alliance Party.
NA Party General Secretary, Joyce Grant, today told Loop PNG that the report on social media is untrue.
“We do not print ballot papers,” Grant said.
She said the materials confiscated were posters and scrutineer forms for Walter Schnaubelt, NA Party endorsed candidate for Namatanai Open in New Ireland Province.
“I was the one who sent the materials as the party administrator.”
But she confirmed that of the 40 people brought into Kokopo Police Station on Sunday, none were charged after being questioned.
Grant said all the people were from New Ireland and some are employees of SOS Security Firm, owned by Schnaubelt, who is also the Party president.
She said the three PNGDF personnel travelling with the group were on approved work leave.
“SOS security is obviously a security company and their main employment base of personnel are former disciplinary forces whether police, army or CIS,” Grant said.
“They are all from NIP, not outside of NIP.
“They are Schnaubelt’s scrutineers who had legitimate scrutineer forms on them plus posters; not ballot papers, but genuine scrutineer forms.
“Any organised candidate will have already gotten their team in place in preparation for polling period.”
PNGDF joint operations commander, Colonel Esekia Wenzel, confirmed with Loop PNG the three serving members of the force were on approved leave.
(File picture of Walter Schnaubelt)
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