Former member for Moresby North-East and candidate contesting the seat, Andrew Mald, has withdrawn an application asking the court to stop counting over a disputed ballot box.
Mald instructed his lawyers to file the case in the Waigani National Court last week.
His lawyer however, withdrew the application and case when it went before the court. This was because events had overturned and the disputed box was already counted at the time the subject of the case went to court.
The interim relief he was seeking in the application was for the court to stop the counting for one box from the Kinakon rain tree polling area at 12-Mile, outside Port Moresby.
He claimed that ballot papers contained in that ballot box were cast in the Kairuku-Hiri Open electorate and not in the North-East Open electorate.
Presiding Judge, Justice Collin Makail, in allowing the application to be withdrawn, told Mald’s lawyer to properly collect information and evidence in preparation for an election petition.
Meanwhile, counting for the Moresby North-East seat has been completed. Quality checks have also been done. Eliminations are expected soon.
(Loop file pic)