Dei open

Justice Collin Makail dismissed the petition today because the petitioner, James Pini, failed to establish that polling was compromised by the setting aside of six ballot boxes.

On 8 May, the National Court found the petition competent with valid grounds for trial.

Petitioner James Pini alleged the election was compromised when the returning officer refused to admit six ballot boxes for counting, thus affecting the election outcome.

Provincial logistics manager for 2017 Elections, Tom Kiap, clarified that the ballot papers were extras for Mul-Baiyer, Dei Open, Hagen and Tambul-Nebilyer electorates.

Kiap said after the distribution of ballot boxes during polling, the remaining were brought back and stored in a container.

He said he didn’t want to burn the ballot papers in an isolated manner but in the presence of officials.

He added that most of the ballot boxes brought back were those that were tampered with by the voters during polling.