Hagen Open

Justice David Cannings today dismissed six grounds of the petition because they were incompetent. However, he allowed the petition to proceed to trial on one main ground.

The petition, filed by James Puk, was grounded on seven main points; five relating to alleged illegal practices committed by supporters of Duma, including agents and servants of the Electoral Commission, while two grounds alleged errors and omission by electoral officers. 

While this matter was filed on May 24 waiting to go before court, other candidates and their supporters took issues into their own hands on Wednesday and disrupted flights into the Kagamuga airport by sitting and protesting on the tarmac.

Air Niugini this morning resumed flights into Mt Hagen after Police managed to get the supporters out.

James Yoka Ekip and Simon Sanagke filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, and today asked the court through their lawyer to stay the decision of the National Court, dated 4 May, which refused an application they had earlier filed.