MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Northwest Choiseul, Harry Kuma will know if the petition filed against him is dismissed or not at 9am on October 16.
That is when Judge Howard Lawry will deliver his ruling on the application to strike out the petition case.
This followed the hearing of the strike out application filed by MP Kuma (First Respondent).
MP Kuma, through his lawyer, has applied to strike out the petition on grounds that the petition is frivolous and vexatious as there are no sufficient evidence and therefore is an abuse of the court process.
Walter Rotumana of Rano & Company is representing MP Kuma.
The petitioner Alick Fleming Pukakoqoro, who was a candidate in the National General Election in April, filed this petition case.
Pukakoqoro initially alleged one ground of accepting campaign donations and six grounds of Bribery.
He later withdrew three grounds of bribery and 1 ground of accepting campaign donations.
Only three grounds of bribery were left and MP Kuma applied to strike them out.
The petitioner also added the electoral officials – counting and returning officers – in the petition, alleging allegations in relation electoral processes under the Electoral Act 2018.
They are named as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents in this petition case.
Lily Ramo of JustLaw Attorneys represents the petitioner, whilst Nickson Ofanakwai of the Attorney General Chambers represents the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents.
MP Kuma is the Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labor and Immigration.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
