Ipatas beats poll petition

Source: The National, Wednesday July 17th, 2013

By PHILIP KEPSON

 

AN election petition filed against Enga Governor Peter Ipatas by a losing candidate was dismissed by the National Court in Mt Hagen yesterday.
This followed an objection to competency submission by Ipatas’ lawyer Paul Mawa two weeks ago.
Mawa told the court during the objection hearing that the entire petition was “structurally defective” and it should be thrown out as it would not make any improvement if was allowed to proceed to trial.
Justice Salatiel Lenalia said when handing down the decision that petitioner Sandy Talitia, who was the runner-up in the Enga Regional seat race, had failed to plead his allegations of illegal practice including omission of voters’ names and bribery under section 108 and 109 of the Organic Law and National and Provincial Government Elections.
Lenalia said it was not the role of the court to make corrections on defective petitions as election petitions were serious matters that tested the election victory of a leader who was chosen by the majority of the people through a secret ballot.
He added that it was the work of the lawyers of the petitioner to tighten up the material facts of the allegation to convince the court.

Prosecutor: Report on case wrong, misleading

Source:The National, Thursday July 11th, 2013

THE deputy police commissioner operations did not submit the 15-page letter that was tendered in the Mt Hagen District Court on Tuesday, prosecutor John Korowa said yesterday.
The letter was on the delay in serving the court summons on Treasury Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye.
Korowa said part of the report on the case as reported yesterday was wrong and misleading.
He said he submitted a two-page letter from police legal officer, Chief Supt Hodges Ete, on the legal opinion on the case to presiding Magistrate Jeremaiah Singomat as requested by the court.
He said the letter was not written by the deputy police commissioner operations nor did it come from his office as stated in the newspaper.
The case will return to the District Court on Aug 6.
The case came about after a police raid on Polye’s house at Avi Block, Jiwaka, on Oct 4, 2011 and found unlicensed firearms and ammunition in his house

Police top brass told not to meddle with court

Source: The National, Wednesday July 10th, 2013

 

By ELIAS LARI
Western Highlands district magistrate Jeremiah Singomat has called on the police commissioner, his deputy and other senior offices not to interfere with any case before the courts.
Singomat said this yesterday in the Mt Hagen District Court after seeing a 15-page letter from the office of the deputy police commissioner, operations, regarding the delay in serving a court summons to Treasury Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye for alleged possession of firearms.
The letter allegedly asked the court do away with the case but Singomat called on police not to interfere with the case.
“This letter has no author and dates so I do not know why the Police Department is so interested in it,” Singomat said.
“This is my court and my business and not a police matter so I do not want police to interfere with any case before the court.”
Singomat said police could not use such tactics to withdraw the case because once it was registered it became a court matter.
A police team had obtained a summons against Polye after searching one of his homes in Jiwaka on October 4 last year and found firearms and ammunition.
Singomat ordered police investigators Ronny Mitau and Michael Wells to write affidavits and explain why the case was not going ahead.
“The court does not happen that way where police using tactics to make this case go without judgment.”
Singomat said as long as he was in charge the case would go ahead until a judgment was made.
He asked why the summons had not been served on Polye, adding he would not allow police to withdraw the case.
“No man is above the law, including the police and political leaders, and once a case is registered it has to proceed.”

Two killed in league riot

Source: The National, Tuesday July 9th, 2013

TWO men are dead following a Sunday of violence between rugby league fans in Wabag, Enga.
Scenes of chaos erupted before the end of the match between the Enga Mioks and Lae Snax Tigers.
The Snax Tigers bus was burnt and several people were slashed with bush knives, with one reportedly in critical condition in hospital.
Tigers supporters, mostly from Wapenamanda where coach Stanley Tepend hails from, have blocked the Highlands Highway to Enga effectly cutting off Wabag town and the Porgera gold mine.
Air Niugini has cancelled flights into Wapenamanda and the PNG Rugby League have cancelled home games in Enga for the Mioks until an investigation is completed.
Wabag provincial police commander Philip Waliya said a man is in police custody following the fatal slashing of another at the game.
A mobile squad has been called in to monitor the situation.
Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, who was at the game, said the incident was isolated and was instigated by drunk supporters.
He welcomed the suspension of home games but urged that the investigation be carried out swiftly to establish who was at fault.
In a statement, Air Niugini said the suspension took effect yesterday and would remain until further notice.
“Our customers are advised to contact your nearest Air Niugini sales office or preferred travel agents to revalidate your travel arrangement.”
The airline said the situation was beyond its control.
“We will not jeopardise the safety of our passengers, crew and the aircraft.
“Safety is always of paramount importance in the operations of Air Niugini.”
Waliya said the deceased had been identified as a student attending Kompiam High School and who had been temporarily providing security during the intercity cup match at the Aipus rugby ground.
He said the suspect was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and entered the main gate when security guards stopped him.
Waliya said the suspect pulled out a bush knife out and chopped the security guard.
He said a fight broke among relatives and supporters and an old man from Wapenmanda who was providing driving and cooking services for the Snax Tigers was also killed.
Rlatives of the deceased retaliated and set up a roadblock in and out of Wabag.
Waliya said he had sent the police station commander and a mobile unit to assess and contain the situation.
Tigers coach Stanley Tepend is the only member of the Lae franchise who is still in Enga attending to the death and hauskrai while team manger Tim Rodgers and the rest of the team are back in Lae after flying out of Mt Hagen.
The match in Wabag between EPG Enga Mioks and Lae Snax Tigers was 30-6 in favor of the Mioks when the violence erupted and the game had to be called off.
Tepend, when contacted, echoed the stance by PNG National Rugby League general manager Hubert Warupis that what happened outside of the playing field was beyond their control.
Speaking yesterday by phone at the hauskrai of the deceased at Waps village in Enga, Tepend raised concern about the safety of Digicel Cup rugby league players and pointed out the lax security

Talita: Please maintain peace

Source: The National, Tuesday July 9th, 2013

 

By ELIAS LARI
THE people of Enga have been urged not to cause any problems or take the law into their hands as the election petition between Sandy Talita and Governor Peter Ipatas is yet to be finalised.
Petitioner Sandy Talita said in Mt Hagen the matter was before the court, which would determine the outcome.
He said in the meantime the road from Wapenamanda to Wabag would not be disturbed as he was from that electorate.
He said the same would happen when people from Wapenamanda travelled to Wabag.
“Ipatas and I are leaders so we do not want any of you to take this matter and act beyond our control,” he said.
“Maintain peace at all times.
“That goes to Ipatas’ and my supporters.
“We are not encouraging you to use the case to do anything.”
Talita said cooperating and allowing the law to take its course would end problems in a peaceful way.
Talita said what he and Ipatas were doing was for the good of the people and the province.
“I, as your leader, am appealing for peace at this time when the case is before the court,” he said.
“I know you will behave but it would be better if we take extra care and the court case ends in a very peaceful way.”
Talita said Engans had to take ownership of everything and maintain peace as he was exercising his freedom to challenge Ipatas’ election win in court.
“But that does not mean that people have to go and create problems here and there,” he said.
“I want us to maintain peace at this time and be law-abiding citizens.
“We must know that what we do will always paint a picture of our province and the people,” he said