The election petition case against Member of Parliament (MP) for Northwest Guadalcanal Francis Sade is set to commence on February 17.
Prior to the trial, the matter will return to court on February 12 for preliminary hearings to determine the admissibility of the evidence, pursuant to section 111 (1) (b) of the Electoral Act 2018.
The Petitioner, former MP Bodo Dettke will call six witnesses, while MP Sade, will call five witnesses.
In October last year, the High Court refused to strike out or dismiss the amended petition filed by MP Sade.
MP Sade had applied to strike out or dismiss the amended petition, arguing that it was frivolous, vexatious, and scandalous and an embarrassment and lack sufficient evidence to meet the required standard to proceed to trial.
However, Justice Lawry ruled that the statement listed in the petition was sufficient to proceed.
Mr Dettke filed the petition after he was not re-elected in the last April joint National General Election.
His lawyer Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice and him initially filed the petition on one count of Interfering with Voting, one count of Undue influence and three counts of Bribery.
However, they withdrew some of the counts except for one count of Bribery and one count of Interfering with Voting.
The petitioner has also included Electoral Commissioner Officers – Returning Officer and Presiding Officer – as the Second Respondent and Third Respondent in this petition.
MP Sade is engaging Rano & Company.
He is currently the Minister of Public Services after he left the Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s post to fill.
This after former Minister of Public Service, John Tuhaika resigned from his ministerial position.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
