BY ROMINAH FAKA
The petition case against MP for Northwest Guadalcanal will proceed to trial.
High court yesterday rejected the application by defence for a strike-out.
MP Francis Sade had made an application to strike out the amended election petition on September 19.
Petitioner, former NW Guadalcanal MP Bodo Dettke raised two allegations against MP Sade.
The first is on bribery which said on or about April 17 between 11am and 12pm at Visale Station, an agent and supporter of Sade committed the offence of bribery by giving a woman of Ka’a Village in North West Guadalcanal $100 and instructing her to go and look for Sade’s symbol and tick it.
The second allegation is interfering with voting. It was alleged on Apil 17, 2024 at Visale Polling Station, Sade interfered with voting by sitting on a chair at the entrance of the Polling Station for almost an hour and shaking hands and talking with the voters who queued and walked past to cast their ballot papers at that said polling station in clear view of the public.
Also, petitioner filed allegation against the second and third respondent (returning and presiding officer) for Visale 2 polling station, which relates to the interference or obstruction of the voters.
The petitioner alleged that the second and third respondent who work during that voting day April 17, have seen Sade sitting on a chair at the entrance of the polling station for an hour, and shaking hand of the voters who queued to cast their ballot papers however, they did not do something about it.
The respondent application to strike out the petition on the basis the petition is, frivolous and vexatious, scandalous and an embarrassment and lack the likelihood of meeting the threshold of proof required in election petitions.
Court refused respondent Sade application to strike out the petition and order for the matter to return to court on October 11 at 9am for mentions.
Rano& Company law firm represent the first respondent Francis Belande Sade and Attorney General Chamber represent the second and third respondent and Gabriel Suri represent the petitioner Bodo Heinz Horst Dettke.
