THE case of the two Assistant Returning Officers for Rigo East and North has been handed over to the NCD Investigations Task Force Unit (NCD ITF).
According to PPC Central, John Midi, the two were brought in for questioning after police found a police uniform and 2x 9mm bullets in their possession.
PPC Midi said NCD ITF is now in charge of the investigation and will lay formal charges after investigations are completed.
However PPC Midi is yet to confirm whether or not the two AROs’ were released from police custody.
ITF investigators are also yet to confirm the charges.
Police confiscated the uniform and live ammunition during a search last night at the Bomana Correctional Institute; the counting venue for Rigo, Abau and Goilala.
The items were confiscated inside their official vehicles.
NCD ITF is a police unit responsible for all election related offences.
Meanwhile, Rigo candidates and scrutineers have signed a petition and presented it to Electoral Commission officers this afternoon at Bomana.
The petition highlights five demands for EC to consider.
This move has now delayed counting for Rigo Open Seat.
They want EC to suspend the Returning Officer for Rigo and the two AROs’ involved in the investigation. The petition also calls for the exclusion of nine counting officials believed to be accompanying the Returning Officers for Rigo East and Rigo North.
The other point highlighted in the petition include their dispute for ballot boxes for inland Rigo (Bore and Biga). They say the ballot boxes arrived a week later and must not be included for counting.
Another concern in the petition by candidates and scrutineers is for EC to swap the counting officials for Rigo and Abau.
Their petition is now before the Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai to respond to.
They say counting must not start unless their demands are met.
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