BY JAYNE SAFIHAO
The assistant returning officer for Nahorawa, in the Raicoast area of Madang province was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by police for tampering with ballot boxes.
Nixon Kawo, who was closely watched by scrutineers of other candidates, was alleged to have been seen in the vehicle of a Regional candidate.
After he was dropped off by the candidate he (Kawo) proceeded back to the counting centre.
Scrutineers who took wind of the supposed meeting threatened him.
They claimed that he acted in a suspicious manner and was arrested by police.
Andrew Salel, a candidate, confirmed this yesterday saying he was not happy.
“We have six boxes from that area and three have been counted with three disputed and have been set aside,” Mr Salel said.
It is also alleged that another assistant returning officer for Naiudo was also seen in the vehicle of the same candidate.
This has raised serious allegations of tampering and rigging of boxes coming from these two areas.
Meanwhile, progressive counting for all six districts are going well with Usino-Bundi and Middle Ramu running behind schedule.
Madang Open has been doing quality checks since yesterday.
Pangu Party candidate Bryan Kramer was leading at the end of count 60 with 15,621 votes.
Several disputes were raised at the regional counting centre in Sumkar regarding anomalies with figures not corresponding and inflated numbers in boxes for certain areas where candidates were not expected to collect.
Police personnel have returned to work while their allowances were being sorted out.