Defeated East Malaita Constituency candidate files to withdraw petition filed against MP Maelanga, High Court to hear withdrawal application on Aug 28
A LOSING candidate for the East Malaita Constituency Seat, George Molakah Atoa has filed an application in the High Court to withdraw his petition against the winning candidate Manasseh Maelanga.
Atoa filed his petition against Maelanga on May 30.
Deputy High Court Registrar Jack Taloifuila confirmed to the Solomon Star that the last mention of the case was heard on June 28.
He stated that the parties are scheduled to appear in court on August 12 to address the application for withdrawal.
Maelanga retained the East Malaita seat for his fourth consecutive term in the April 17 national elections, securing 2,844 votes, ahead of runner-up Faabasua Manibili, who received 1,472 votes.
Atoa received 679 votes in an election where five candidates contested the East Malaita seat.
Atoa previously informed In-depth Solomons that his petition does not dispute the electoral outcome based on vote counting or the conduct of electoral officials.
Instead, it challenges Maelanga’s return as the elected MP on grounds of alleged illegal practices, specifically bribery.
“I filed the petition not to claim the seat or contest irregularities in counting or conduct of electoral officials but to exercise my right to petition Maelanga’s return as the elected Member of Parliament for the constituency, as I was one of the five candidates that contested,” Mr Atoa explained.
“Additionally, as an original resident, I have the right to file this petition to ensure a fair, free, and democratic election. These corrupt and illegal practices have been prevalent, and it is time we put a stop to them,” Mr Atoa, a lawyer by profession, added.
Atoa did not detail specific instances of corrupt or illegal practices in his initial statement.
He has engaged L & L Lawyers.
However, the reason for his application to withdraw the petition against Maelanga, who is the Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID), remains unknown.
Maelanga is one of 26 members of the 12th Parliament facing petitions, representing more than half of the country’s 50-seat Parliament. Among the petitioned Parliamentarians are the MP for East Choiseul and Minister for Finance and Treasury, Manasseh Sogavare; the MP for East Guadalcanal and Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and Deputy Prime Minister, Bradley Tovosia; the MP for Central Guadalcanal and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka; the MP for Gizo-Kolombangara and Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Jimson Tanangada; and the MP for West Honiara and Chairman of Government Caucus, Namson Tran.
The hearings are conducted in the Chambers of Judge Augustine Aulanga and Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer.
Since last week, the High Court has held direction hearings to address housekeeping matters regarding the petition cases before they are listed for mention.
Mr Taloifuila explained that during direction hearings, any petition case lacking merit could be struck off.
He noted that the two provincial election petition cases filed were listed last week for direction hearings before the Registrar.
However, as the Registrar was out in one of the provinces at the time, they were re-listed.
The High Court received 26 petitions filed against Members of Parliament (MPs) and two against Members of the Isabel Provincial Assembly at the close of the petition period.
The two provincial assembly members facing petitions are Isabel Province Premier and MPA for Samasodu Ward, Lawrence Hayward, and MPA for Baolo Ward, Mason Ian.
Losing candidates Eddie Ene and Norma Mua filed the petitions against the two MPAs.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
