PIUS WINGTI TO GO FOR TRIAL

Pius Wingti to go on trial . Photo source: PNGBlogs

The National Court in Mount Hagen has dismissed an attempt by Governor Paias Wingti, to remove a Judge presiding over an election petition case against him.

Mr. Wingti filed an application in court, asking that Justice Collin Makail disqualify himself from presiding over a petition by former Governor Tom Olga, against him.

He alleges, that Justice Makail's associate said some things which showed, that the Judge's thinking would be affected, when it comes to deciding over the case.

But in a ruling on Friday, Justice Makail dismissed the application saying, nothing is wrong with him presiding over the case and stated as false, any evidence against him being unfair, adding this would not affect him deciding the case.

Jutice Makail threw out the application in Mount Hagen, ordering that the former Prime Minister pay for the court's costs.

The court's ruling means that a trial, challenging Wingti's win can now start.

Justice Makail has listed the case for next month.