Peter Yama

The one filed by retired Defense Force commander, Major-General Jerry Singirok, will be heard by Justice Terrence Higgins from February 8-9.

The second petition, filed by James Yali, will go before the same judge from February 12 and will run for five days.

Justice Collin Makail finalised the trial dates for the second petition today after he refused two preliminary applications by Governor Peter Yama.

They filed a motion before the Court of Disputed Returns in the petition that was filed by retired Defense Force commander, Major-General Jerry Singirok, in the 2017 election over the Madang Regional seat.

They asked the National Court to refer questions for determination surrounding the qualification of election runner-up, James Yali, to nominate and stand for election.  

The court told them to draft the proposed questions and have them filed in court this week before the matter returns tomorrow (Friday).

The election petition filed by Retired Defense Force Commander Major-General Jerry Singirok has been set for trial from 8th to 9th of February 2018 at the Madang National Court.

In this petition, Singirok is alleging that there were acts of bribery and undue influence during the elections

He is also raising questions on election runner-up, James Yali’s qualification to nominate and stand for election. Yali is not a party to that petition.

Yama made this statement after the arrest of deputy Electoral Commissioner Administration Simon Sinai on Monday by the fraud squad in Port Moresby.  

Yama said political offices are public offices where transparency and honesty should be maintained at all times.

He said the arrest of Sinai was just one out many that are yet to come, and thanks the fraud squad for a job well done.

“Electoral officials must not change what the people have decided on the ballot papers.

“Their duty was to be transparent and honest in anything they do.”

He has recently returned from the province of Batangas in the Philippines, seeking partners to build a school in Madang that offers this type of training for youth in his province.

Yama believes that the arrangement would be of strategic benefit to Madang Province and the Madang Provincial Government.

He said this partnership would also be an intervention to rid unemployed but indigenous youths from the streets of Madang, which in turn will decrease the strain on the law and justice sector.

Governor Yama accused previous administrations of engaging in numerous corrupt deals involving a lot of money being paid through fraudulent activities; the fraud squad has been assigned to investigate these.

Yama said no proper audits have been done by the Office of Rural Development that clearly indicate the use of public funds in Madang.

He said according to reports from the Office of Rural Development, so much money has been spent with nothing to show for on the ground.

Governor Yama emphasised this in a recent press conference in Port Moresby.

The Madang Governor said the Government has spent a lot of money on inquiries but nothing has been forthcoming in terms of the implementation of recommendations.

He said high profile judges, both in PNG and overseas, were involved in carrying out these inquiries but no one has been reprimanded yet.

Governor Yama further said the Government must attend to previous inquiries first and start arresting those implicated, rather than arresting simple people stealing a can of tinned fish.

He said many commission of inquiries have been set up and recommendations given but they have yet to be implemented.

Yama added that a lot of money had also been spent and still nothing has come forth.

"When will we see some people go to jail or face charges as a result of recommendations from the inquiries?

"Many of the people implicated in the inquiries have stolen millions of kina from the people of PNG and yet have not been arrested."

"Every time we ask for a Commission of inquiry yet no results are being implemented".

Declared earlier tonight Yama exceeded the absolute majority of 79 401 votes.

The Governor elect managed to collect 16 261 votes bringing his votes to 85 382 votes at the final elimination.

Meantime, runner up and NA candidate, James Yali came out with 72 763 votes collecting 10 434 votes.

The total allowable ballot papers are 158 80 with 35 150 exhausted ballot papers

Following the declaration of the newly elected Governor for Madang, the question now remains which camp he will choose.

Madang Businessman Peter Yama is seeking contempt charges against former Electoral  Commissioner Sir Andrew Trawen, the returning officer involved in the Madang Open by-election recount in 2014, Simon Sinai, and their lawyer Harvey Nii.

He alleges that they misled the national court with wrong information when the court was dealing with an election petition filed by Yama challenging the election of current Madang Open MP Nixon Duban.

The contempt trial has commenced before Justice Collin Makail by way of affidavits or statements.