AN ELECTION petition case filed against Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Baolo Ward in Isabel Province, Ian Mason will proceed to trial on February 11.
This follows Judge Leonard Maina’s dismissal of an application by the MPA to strike out the petition for the ‘want of prosecution’ – due to the failure of Mason’s counsel to prosecute the case within the specified period.
Mason filed the application in response to a petition lodged by Norma Mua, a losing candidate in the in the provincial election last April.
Mua filed the petition based on more than five allegations of mostly bribery.
On Tuesday, the hearing for Mason’s application was scheduled, but Mason and his lawyer failed to appear in court.
As a result, Mua’s lawyer applied to strike out Mason’s application, which Judge Maina subsequently accepted and thereby dismissed.
The matter has been adjourned to February 11 for a possible trial hearing.
Mason is represented by Whitlam K. Togamae lawyers, while Mua is represented by Gregory Muaki of DNS & Partners.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
