An ousted MP in Papua New Guinea's Chimbu Province has been charged with wilful murder and inciting violence in election-related unrest.
Tobias Kulang has lost his seat in Kundiawa-Gembogl electorate since violence broke out there two weeks ago due to a ballot dispute in the late stages of the vote count.
Mr Kulang and his supporters were centrally involved in the violence in Kundiawa town which left at least two people dead.
The politician, who stood with the ruling People's National Congress party, was arrested and taken into custody in neighbouring Eastern Highlands province.
This was for his own safety, according to the Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Alex N'Drasal, who spoke with Johnny Blades.
Papua New Guinea police.
Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Transcript
ALEX N'DRASAL: He has already been charged with wilful murder and inciting to create violence in Kundiawa town. He appeared before the court for mention. Plus yesterday his lawyer did his bail application through the court. He's on court bail now, and he will be appearing before the court that adjourned to next month.
JOHNNY BLADES: Is the nature of the charge that he incited his own supporters to conduct the violence that led to the deaths?
AN: He was arrested and charged for two cases. One charge was wilful murder, and the other charge was inciting to cause violence. He was not intentionally... he was chased by aggressive supporters of rival candidates in Chimbu, and he dashed out for his life and he fired several shots that shot someone down in town.
JB: And this was in violence related to the vote counting process in Kundiawa?
AN: Yes of course it is.
JB: Like, a ballot box or ballot dispute sort of thing?
AN: That's right. I think he applied for a court order to the national court, and he obtained a court order to stop the two ballot boxes that were not being counted to be counted. Unfortunately they did not follow the court order, and that created violence in Kundiawa town amongst the supporters of the contesting candidates. That includes him as well.
JB: Can I just confirm that two people died as a result of this outburst of violence?
AN: Yes, I think it's about three. There's another one that was in the ICU (intensive care unit) that also died. So three people died in Kundiawa town.
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