Joseph Kobol

Petitioner in the Southern Highlands Regional seat, Joseph Kobol, went before the Supreme Court with an application seeking leave to file for review.  

A ruling will be given at a later date.

Justice Derek Hartshorn, sitting as a single Supreme Court judge, today heard submission from lawyers representing Kobol, the Electoral Commission and Governor William Powi.

Kobol is asking the Supreme Court to grant him leave to file a review into the dismissal of his petition in the National Court on June 14 after it was found to be incompetent.

He publicly apologised in front of the media yesterday afternoon, witnessed by Southern Highlands Governor William Powi and other Southern Highlands leaders, including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Enga Governor Peter Ipatas and the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Davies Steven.

He further apologised to airline company, Air Niugini, for the burning of its Link PNG Dash 8 aircraft at Mendi Airport, saying the act was uncalled for.

He said he is now prepared to review the case through the Supreme Court.

Reliable sources informed this newsroom that early this afternoon, a group of angry locals, alleged to be supporters of Joseph Kobol, attacked an aircraft belonging to Air Niugini.

Both reports stated that the tyres and propellers to the Dash 8 sustained some damage after which, the aircraft was then set on fire, including Governor Powi’s house in North Kagua.

One source said the mob outnumbered police and army personnel.

The same source said the Court House, Health Department, Education Department offices have also been burnt.

More reports to come.

This seat was the first to go to the polls and the last to have its writ returned after a declaration was made in Port Moresby “under special circumstances”.

The Southern Highlands regional seat saw three months of prolonged counting to rejected declaration results, changes in appointments of returning officers and eventually a declaration in Port Moresby on the evening of 27 September 2017, without the alleged completion of the scrutiny process. 

He has instructed his lawyers to file law suit against the media house and the candidate who made malicious statements against him.

Regional candidate for Southern Highlands,  Joseph Kobol in a media conference on Tuesday raised allegations against Powi on misuse of funds.

Kobol said he filed a complaint in 2013 stating alleged misuse of public funds intended for projects which never translated on ground.

The money, he says, is part of the K45 million break-up of petroleum funds allocated and released for Southern Highlands.