10 Oct 2008

PNG education minister loses seat in vote recount

4:21 pm on 10 October 2008

Papua New Guinea's government has lost a cabinet member after a court-ordered recount found an opposition candidate won his seat.

The education minister Michael Laimo was elected to represent South Bougainville in July last year, but this week the National Court declared Steven Kamma the winner.

The recount found Mr Kamma had won by 151 out of more than 6,000 votes.

A recount was called last year after voting discrepancies and alleged illegal behaviour by Electoral Commission officers.