Court to set date for Salopuka’s strike out application
THE High Court will set a date to hear an application made to strike out the election petition case filed against Member of Parliament (MP) for Russells and Savo Oliver Salopuka on September 30.
This election petition case went before the High Court on Monday for a pre-trial conference hearing before Judge Augustine Aulanga.
Judge Aulanga did not hear the Pre-Trial conference but adjourned the matter to go before another judge as he was overloaded with other petition and civil cases.
The court was also on Monday informed that first respondent MP Salopuka and the second respondent who is represented by the Attorney General’s Chamber wanted to make applications to strike out the petition case.
The AG represents the Electoral Commission, Chief Electoral Officer, Election Manager for Russell and Savo and the Returning Officer.
The petitioners in this case are the former Russell and Savo MP, Dickson Mua and Peter Osike, another candidate in the April 17 National General Election (NGE).
They filed the petition on nine grounds of bribery against MP Salopuka and 8 grounds of breaches of Electoral Act against the Electoral Commission and its officers.
MP Salopuka filed the application to strike out on Monday, whilst the Attorney General filed theirs on Tuesday.
MP Salopuka made the application to strike out the petition on grounds of no reasonable cause of action after seeing the allegations filed against him.
This petition case will return to the court on September 30 before another judge to set a hearing date for the application to strike out.
The L & L Lawyers are representing the petitioners, whilst MP Salopuka is engaging A S Willy Law Office.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
MP Rangirei’s election victory upheld
THE High Court has upheld the election victory of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Temotu VATUD Constituency, Freda Ab Tuki Rangirei.
High Court judge Augustine Aulanga yesterday granted the application filed by MP Rangirei’s lawyer to strike out the petition filed against the MP by one of the unsuccessful election contestants and at the same time dismissed all four allegations in the petition.
The petition was filed by Angella Doris Forau Tahani.
Judge Aulanga said in granting the application to strike out the petition, all the allegations on grounds 1 to 4 in the petition case are dismissed forthwith.
Judge Aulanga only read out his orders for the petition strike out and added that the full reasons for his ruling will be made available today.
Mrs Tahani filed the petition against MP Soriacomua on four grounds of Bribery.
Outside of court, Maito’o Hauirae of Peter Teddy Law Practice, who represented MP Soriacomua, explained to Solomon Star that they filed the application to strike out the petition case on the following grounds:
“The first ground for the application to strike out is the service of the petition by the petitioner on Mrs Soriacomua at the Parliament grounds.
“The second was that they did not specify the sections of the Electoral Act and the third was that the petitioner came to court with unclean hands,” he explained.
When asked to explain what he meant by ‘unclean hands’, Mr Hauirae said the person who made a sworn statement for the petitioner was the same person who always texted MP Soriacomua asking for ‘money and for this and that.’
“So, the petitioner came to court with bad motives,” he added.
Mr Hauirae said they also submitted the text messages to the court.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Waneoroa petition strikeout application hearing rescheduled
THE hearing of the application to strike out the election petition case filed against Member of Parliament (MP) for North Malaita, Daniel Suilea Waneoroa has been adjourned to September 16.
The election petition case went before Judge Michael Pitakaka for mention for the court to check on compliances of parties.
Having mentioned the matter yesterday, Judge Pitakaka adjourned the case to September 16 for the hearing.
Former MP for North Malaita, Jimmy Lusibaea filed the petition against Mr Waneoroa after he lost the National General Election (NGE) in April.
He filed the petition on two grounds of Bribery – one for Tampering and the other for Unlawful Voting.
The Electoral Commission and its officers were also included as the Second Respondent.
Mr Lusibaea alleges that the Presiding Officer for North Malaita gave out ballots to a person to cash multiple votes and also alleges the Tampering of Voter’s list at one of the polling stations.
MP Waneoroa then filed an application to strike out the petition on grounds that it is frivolous and vexatious.
They challenged the pleadings on the petitions asserting that they are improper and lack merit to proceed to trial.
L & L lawyers is representing MP Waneoroa, whilst Mr Lusibaea is engaging Taupongi Law Practice.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
