The Court on Election Petition has refused an urgent application by the Minister for Environment and Conservation John Pundari to have the election petition against him dismissed.
The decision was handed down at Waigani yesterday by Justice Collin Makail.
Justice Makail said issues raised in the petition by Lucas Nea and another candidate from the Kompiam Ambum electorate were serious.
The allegations are bribery and hijacking of the polling process in the 2012 National Election.
Justice Makail allowed the aggrieved a further seven days, to serve the petition to Mr Pundari’s lawyer.
Earlier Mr Pundari filed an application, to dismiss the petition saying the petition was not served at the right residential address as indicated in the Nomination Form.
Among the twelve election petitions listed for directions hearing today were MPs Sir Julius Chan, Sir Puka Temu, Ano Pala and Francis Potape.
