COURT ORDERS BY-ELECTION FOR SOHE ELECTORATE OF ORO PROVINCE

COURT ORDERS BY-ELECTION FOR SOHE ELECTORATE

NBC News PNG

The court of disputed returns has ordered a by-election for the Sohe electorate in the Northern province. 

Acting judge Emma Wurr also declared the election win of Henry Amuli in the 2022 National elections as Null and void. 

She made this ruling this afternoon in Port Moresby when handing down the decision on the trial of the election petition filed by former MP Delilah Gore. 

The court made the decision on Election Petition 38 of 2022 after a ten days trial which was heard in Popondetta in December 2022. 

Petitioner Delilah Gore had raised allegations of bribery committed by associates of the first respondent Henry Amuli who were his election coordinators during the polling period. 

Acting Justice Emma Wurr found that the First Respondents' election coordinators had bribed and lured voters of the petitioner with sums of K20, K50, and K100 during the polling period. 

This influences the outcome of the result of the Sohe electorate in the 2022 NGE. 

Acting judge Wurr was satisfied that elements of bribery under Section 103 of the Criminal Code Act were found in affidavits and testimonies of witnesses during the trial. 

Court has ordered PNGEC to conduct a by-election for Sohe Electorate. 

Petitioner Delilah Gore told NBC news that the court has delivered Justice to the people of Sohe.

Meanwhile, Court ousted Member for Sohe Open Henry Amuli through his lawyer have revealed intentions to file a Supreme Court review of the decision.

His legal counsel told supporters after the decision this afternoon, the first directive to be sought from Supreme Court is to keep Mr. Amuli in office, while the matter goes before the highest court. 

NBC News- Cashmir Waken