CARE election candidate files petition against Sogavare, number of filed petitions stand at 15
A PETITION filed against former Prime Minister and the current Minister of Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare was amongst four new petitions filed in the High Court yesterday, High Court Deputy Registrar Jack Taloifuila confirmed.
The petition against Sogavare was filed by David Qurusu, the candidate of the Coalition for Accountability, Reform, Advancement and Empowerment (CARE) for the East Choiseul Constituency Seat.
Mr Taloifuila said the four new petitions bring the total number of petitions filed so far to 15.
He said two of the four new petitions were filed respectively by Angella Doris Tahani against re-elected MP for Temotu VATUD Freda Ab Tuki Soriacomua and Bradley Lenga against the MP for North East Guadalcanal Jamie Vokia.
Mr Taloifuila was unable to provide the details of the fourth petition as the officer looking after the petition files had gone out from office.
He added that there were others who wanted to file new petitions but their petition filing request were declined as their paper works were not sorted out.
“We refused to file their petition and told them to sort out their paper works before they could file theirs.”
Mr Taloifuila said more petitions are expected to be filed before the 30-day period for filing of petition closes tomorrow.
The other four petition cases filed on Tuesday were that of Jessy Koli against the re-elected Member of Parliament for East Guadalcanal Constituency and Deputy Prime Minister, Bradley Billy Smoky Rodo Tovosia, one filed by Wilson Mamae against the re-elected MP for West Honiara Constituency and Chairman of Government Caucus, Namson Tran, one filed by Alick Fleming Pukakoqoro against the re-elected MP for Northwest Choiseul Constituency and Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Immigration, Harry Kuma and one filed by the former MP for Temotu Pele Constituency, Duddley Kopu against his successor James Bonunga, who is a member of the Opposition Group.
The seven petitions filed on Monday this week and on Friday last week were that of:
- Samuel Manetoali against newly elected Member of Parliament for Gao-Bugotu and the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Trevor Hedley Mahaga;
- Jeromy Manengelea Rex against re-elected MP for Central Guadalcanal and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka;
- Dickson Mua and Peter Osika jointly filed a petition against Oliver Salopuka, the MP for Savo-Russells;
- Former MP Samson Maneka against newly elected MP for North Guadalcanal and Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai;
- Peter Soqoilo against MP for Gizo-Kolombangara and Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Jimson Fiau Tanangada;
- Former MP Anthony Kamutulaka Veke against the MP for West Guadalcanal Moses Garu; and
- Former MP for Lau Mbaelelea Augustine Auga Maeue and Harry Philip’s joint petition against new MP Ben Maenu.
The filing fee for National General Elections is $2000, with an additional $40,000 required for security.
For Provincial Elections and the Honiara City Council, the filing fee is $850, accompanied by a $10,000 security deposit.
The Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi had advised that the 30-day period for the filing of election petitions commenced on April 30 and will conclude on May 30.
The 2019 National General Elections saw a total of 29 petition cases filed by the petition deadline.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
