THE Mt. Hagen National Court has stopped the directive from the PNG Electoral Commission to relocate the counting venue for Lagaip Open Supplementary Election from Lagaip to Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.
This follows a successful interim orders obtained by aggrieved candidate Mr. Tomait Kapili on Monday 6th November 2023.
Kapili (plaintiff) through Minok and Company Lawyers obtained the interim restraining orders against the Returning Officer Mr. Newman Wailyo (first defendant), Electoral Commissioner Mr. Simon Sinai (second defendant) and the PNG Electoral Commission (third defendant).
The court ordered Mr. Wailyo in his capacity as the Returning Officer for Lagaip Open not to transfer the ballot boxes to Goroka.
The court also restrained Electoral Commissioner Mr. Simon Sinai and the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea from transferring the ballot boxes to Goroka.
The court further restrained the defendants from appointing counting centers pending the determination of the proceeding.
Meanwhile, the court directed the Plaintiff to serve the originating process and notice of the motion to the Defendants within 72 hours.
The matter returns for Inter-Partes Hearing on Thursday 9th November 2023 at 1:30pm.
