5 charged with damaging GE22 ballot boxes, papers

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Nawaeb returning officer Bamun Bange preparing the writ for the just-elected Nawaeb representative Theo Pelgen (right). – Nationalpic by JIMMY KALEBE

5 charged with damaging GE22 ballot boxes, papers

PORT MORESBY: Five men charged with damaging General Election 2022 (GE22) ballot boxes and papers in Markham on July 16 had their charges amended in a committal court in Lae on Monday (Aug 1, 2022).

Magistrate Lorna Sani explained the charges amended by the police prosecutor to the five accused and fixed Sept 5, 2022 for next hearing.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the court proceedings and a few GE22 news updates as reported by The National:

Charges against five amended

August 2, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By MALIKAI BALANDU
FIVE-MEN charged with causing wilful damages to ballot boxes and papers in Markham on July 16 had their charges amended and explained in the Lae Committal Court on Monday.
Defendants Paul Kasi, 52, from Markham’s Intuap village, Morobe; James Samuel, 37, from Obura-Wonenara’s Andara village in Eastern Highlands; Gideon Bampung, 23, Joseph Bampung, 25, and Philemon Rueben Iria, 23, from Markham’s Bagaboang village in Morobe appeared in court yesterday from remand.
Magistrate Lorna Sani heard and explained the amended charges made by the police prosecutor where each defendant was charged with a count of wilful damage to property, arson, malicious damage, unlawful damage, and rioting.
“These are the charges against five of you, for now we will wait for police to do file and then you can defend yourselves in court,” she said.
Sani refused bail for the five but directed them to apply for it in the National Court.
She also advised the men to have a lawyer at their next court appearance.
The men were remanded at Buimo to wait for their Sept 7 hearing.
According court documents on July 16 around 12pm to 5pm, the five defendants alleged to have been involved in a riot that resulted in damaging of properties, and of ballot boxes and ballot papers at Mutzing station, Markham. The defendants allegedly broke open a 20-foot shipping container containing ballot boxes and papers and set them on fire.
They were alleged to have damaged a tractor valued at more than K220,000, a vehicle and machinery valued thousands of kina belonging to the Markham District Office.

New Wau-Waria MP invites candidates to share ideas

By EHEYUC SESERU
NEWLY-ELECTED member for Wau-Waria Marsh Narewec has invited those who contested the seat to share their ideas on how to develop the new district.
Thirty-three candidates, including a woman, from the district’s three local level governments (LLGs) of Wau rural, urban and Waria contested the seat.
Narewec, who is the only PNG Destiny party member-elected so far, urged candidates who contested the seat to work with him to develop Wau-Waria.
“All of you have dreams and plans on how to develop this district.
“Bring your ideas and plans so we all can work on it together,” he said.
Narewec the new district would be properly celebrated once government was formed.
“We’ll have a celebration, and then a development forum after that, so you can present your papers for the developments.
“Put down your ideas and come present it.
“This is our district, let’s hold hands and work together,” Narewec said.
“I am a leader of those who haven’t voted for me.
“I am everyone’s leader.
“I contested the seat, not because of my family or for the sake of my private business.
“It was for the Wau-Waria people.”
Narewec addressed supporters and the public in Wau town after his dedication service on Sunday at the Redeemer Lutheran parish.
He was declared on Saturday night.
Deputy Prime Minister and Lae MP John Rosso was on hand to take the new MP to the Pangu Pati camp in Port Moresby.
Narewec said the new district had many challenges that would need sensible and effective solutions and he would consult with the people on what was the best course to take moving forward.
“We need a district hospital, better markets for alluvial miners, new roads connecting all areas and well maintained existing roads for easy transportation of cash crops to markets,” he said.
“When our roads are opened or properly maintained, other services will flow in.
“That is the reason why I have joined Pangu to form government, to deliver services to my people.”
The new district in Morobe, Wau-Waria electorate, previously under Bulolo, had its first election this year.

Pelgen says everyone will be treated fairly

Nawaeb returning officer Bamun Bange preparing the writ for the just-elected Nawaeb representative Theo Pelgen (right). – Nationalpic by JIMMY KALEBE

By JIMMY KALEBE
NEWLY-elected MP for Nawaeb, Morobe Theo Pelgen dedicated his victory to the people and said he will ensure they are priority over the next five years.
“I am not the winner in the race. It is you people that are the winners of this race,” Pelgen told the crowd at the Boana station.
He told the people that he was settling his family in the district and would give his best to ensure services reached them regardless of their status, number or name.
“While taking this seat now, under my chairmanship, everybody will be treated fairly,” he said.
He told the people to work closely with him to ensure Nawaeb was developed.
He was the second People’s First Party candidate to win a seat in the General Election 2022, the first being party leader and Yangoru-Sausia’s Richard Maru in East Sepik.
Pelgen said under his party policies, he would ensure the people of Nawaeb received the best from him.
His win is the first for the Labuta local level government in Nawaeb since independence.
Pelgen polled 10,335 to win at the 53rd elimination, runner-up Romeo Momo polled 9,233.
Former MP and Pangu Pati candidate Kennedy Wenge, after bowing out at 51st elimination, said that it was his last contest.

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