The acting Chief Migration Officer for the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority, Solomon Kantha, has been summoned by the court to appear for an election petition trial.
He is to appear in court, on a date that is yet to be set, to give evidence on the citizenship status of West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel.
Petitioner in the case, Chris Lagisa, requested for Kantha to be in court to verify the Governor’s citizenship status.
Lagisa’s lawyer asked the court to have him summoned to verify if Muthuvel has a dual citizenship.
He alleges that Mutuvel is not qualified, competent and did not lawfully nominate as a candidate due to his citizenship status.
In this petition, Lagisa also is alleging four counts of bribery against Muthuvel, two counts of undue influence and errors and omission on the part of the Electoral Commission.
15 witnesses are expected to be called for the trial by the petitioner, 10 witnesses for the Electoral Commission while Mutuvel’s lawyer indicated calling three witnesses.
Also in the West New Britain Province, former member for Talasea, Francis Marus, has filed a petition against the new MP, Francis Maneke.
Marus is alleging eight instances of errors and omission against the Electoral Commission and he intends to call 10 witnesses for the trial.
Maneke’s lawyer indicated calling six witnesses.
The Electoral Commission has filed an objection on the competency of the petition on Oct 2.
Both petitions return to court next month.