Madang Governor Peter Yama has called on electoral officers to be transparent and honest in their duties.
Yama made this statement after the arrest of deputy Electoral Commissioner Administration Simon Sinai on Monday by the fraud squad in Port Moresby.
Yama said political offices are public offices where transparency and honesty should be maintained at all times.
He said the arrest of Sinai was just one out many that are yet to come, and thanks the fraud squad for a job well done.
“Electoral officials must not change what the people have decided on the ballot papers.
“Their duty was to be transparent and honest in anything they do.”
He added that people’s choice in electing leaders must not be changed by election officials.
“This is a lesson to other officials in the future elections to make sure nothing of such is repeated.”
The former returning officer for the 2014 Madang Open by-election recount, Sinai, was arrested and charged with one count of false statement declaration, one count of perjury and one count of official corruption in the 2013 by-election.
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