THE Acting Returning Officer (ARO) for ward 10 in the Port Moresby North West electorate, James Sipira has been brought to the Boroko Police Station yesterday for questioning following an incident identified through quality check which was under his command during the first preference count.
During count 117, 118 and 119 for the ward 10 area yesterday at the Sir John Guise Indoor complex, counting officials when doing quality checks have identified that there were a number of first preference votes that belong to different candidates were all being identified to be sealed under one candidate tray.
This has led to an argument between the scrutineers and the counting officials in charge questioning as to why and how the incident which was supposed to be corrected during the first preference count was overlooked by the ARO in charge.
“For the first box formality check, a total of about 40-45 votes from other candidates were found and the figures increased when the other two boxes were distributed for quality check.
“These ballot paper totals has affected the cumulative figures for respective candidates given at the end of the first preference count.
“This is unlikely to be a “human error” as said by the AROs during quality checks,” said one of the scrutineers who was present to witness and raised concerns during the quality check yesterday.
Returning Officer, Desmond Timiyaso has advised scrutineers that ARO responsible for ward 10 has been brought in for questioning to clarify the possibility of the unlikely as claimed “human error”.
The first preference votes for other candidates identified have been distributed to their respective trays for formalities and have the figures recorded.
The disputed tray that has contained the first preference votes for other candidates was identified to be for candidate for box 30, Joe Tonde.
Meanwhile, quality checks for all five ward areas have been completed. Elimination will begin today before announcing the winning candidate and the return of writs on Thursday June 24.