Yangoru-Saussia MP

A press conference was hosted today by the Minister for National Planning and Yangoru-Saussia MP, Richard Maru, Defence Minister and Telefomin MP, Solan Mirisim, and the Vice-Minister for Finance and Rural Development and Ambunti-Dreikikir MP, Johnson Wapunai.

Maru believes the project can unlock the vast economic potential of some of the most remote communities in Telefomin and Ambunti-Dreikikir districts.

Minister Maru said this when visiting the school on October 4^th.

The visit was the first in around five years and Minister Maru returned with an important gift.

Minister Maru made a long awaited return to Kubalia to visit its secondary school and to make a significant presentation; a brand new school truck.

Welcomed by hundreds of locals, Acting Principal, Ken Guambagi, thanked Minister Maru for the presentation.

Petitioner Peter Wararu Waranaka challenged Maru’s election on six main grounds: 22 counts of bribery, undue influence, errors and omission, illegal practices, irregularities and forgery.

Waranaka was seeking a recount in the petition.

The matter went before Justice Ambeng Kandakasi for hearing one objection to competency motion, filed by Maru.

Maru’s lawyers put to court the petition was filed outside 40 days’ requirement and was incompetent. 

This follows the murder of a bus driver on the Sepik Highway last Thursday. 

Maru made the declaration in a media conference today.

The Minister said his district will not tolerate further criminal behaviour in his district and has issued a warning to criminal elements.

Criminal activity has heightened, especially along the Sepik Highway, and the recent death of a bus driver has signalled the need for a hard handed response.

The petition went for directions today, where Waranaka’s lawyer, John Alman, indicated they will be filing a motion seeking protection order of those witnesses.

Alman said they will be filing necessary application seeking to have the court restrain police and supporters of Maru, the first respondent, from intimidating or threatening the petitioner’s witnesses.

In this petition, Waranaka is alleging 22 counts of bribery.