By NELLIE SETEPANO
COUNTING for Port Moresby North-West was suspended
after count 13 yesterday afternoon after the returning officer was served a
notification by the Electoral Commissioner to step down because he authorised
the burning of more than 500 ballot papers. Returning officer Joseph Fraghi was
served his suspension by operations manager southern region Kila Vaname at the
Institute of Public Administration. Mr Fraghi is replaced by assistant returning
officer Karo Tiana.
Mr Fraghi ordered the burning of votes from Box 109 on Saturday afternoon and Box Nine separately on Sunday morning after complaints from scrutineers, claiming that both boxes were tampered with. Scrutineers claimed the inner seal of Box Nine was tampered with while the other contained votes from eight policemen at Boroko Police station booth. Box 109 contained 449 ballot papers while the other box contained eight ballot papers.
Lawyer for the Electoral Commission Alice Kimbu told the media that burning of votes were illegal.
Deputy Area Commander Senior Inspector Silas Wayagure witnessed the suspension said by law if a ballot box is disputed by scrutineers, it should be set aside. Destruction of boxes is a decision and that is not made by any returning officer during counting.
The counting was suspended for two hour.
Scrutineers were not happy with the suspension while few counting officials shed tears after the announcement.
A very emotional Fraghi told scrutineers and counting officials that he agreed to step down for transparency purposes.
Mr Fraghi ordered the burning of votes from Box 109 on Saturday afternoon and Box Nine separately on Sunday morning after complaints from scrutineers, claiming that both boxes were tampered with. Scrutineers claimed the inner seal of Box Nine was tampered with while the other contained votes from eight policemen at Boroko Police station booth. Box 109 contained 449 ballot papers while the other box contained eight ballot papers.
Lawyer for the Electoral Commission Alice Kimbu told the media that burning of votes were illegal.
Deputy Area Commander Senior Inspector Silas Wayagure witnessed the suspension said by law if a ballot box is disputed by scrutineers, it should be set aside. Destruction of boxes is a decision and that is not made by any returning officer during counting.
The counting was suspended for two hour.
Scrutineers were not happy with the suspension while few counting officials shed tears after the announcement.
A very emotional Fraghi told scrutineers and counting officials that he agreed to step down for transparency purposes.
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