24 Apr 2003

Two PNG Cabinet Minister win election petition cases

3:46 pm on 24 April 2003

Two Cabinet Ministers in Papua New Guinea had petitions challenging their elections thrown out this week.

Central Bougainville MP Sam Akoitai, representing himself after his lawyers had failed to turn up, made a successful application for the petition by Thomas Tamusio to be thrown out.

The Post Courier reports that Mr Akoitai agrued the petiton should be dismissed because the petitioner had failed to appear despite numerous court directives.

Mr Akoitai says this had meant the pre trial hearing had been adjourned five times and that it was proper and fair that the case be struck out.

Justice Sevua agreed and awarded costs to Mr Akoitai.

And the judge also threw out the petition against South Bougainville MP, Michael Laimo after the repeated non appearances by the petitioner, Nick Peniai.