Absolutely unbelievable!

From today’s The National front page (Friday, 27th of July):

Story by: Yali Stunner

CONVICTED rapist James Yali has become the first person in PNG to be win a seat in Parliament while serving a prison sentence. Although he was not released to campaign, he still garnered enough votes to beat 27 other candidates to retain his Rai Coast seat.

He polled 4,727 votes (50.95%) to just hold off his nearest challenger – Niuro Sapia – by 173 votes and was declared the winner on Wednesday. Election officials are expected to arrive at Beon Jail today to have Yali sign his declaration.  He was found guilty of raping his sister-in-law in 2005 and was sentenced to 12 years’ jail by the court early last year.

The Electoral Commission maintained that although rape is an indictable offence, Yali had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court while therefore meant his conviction was still to be confirmed.

Critics and other candidates have argued that rape was a serious offence and Yali should not have been allowed to contest. They also pointed to amendments to the law which they said barred him contesting. Several candidates have voiced their objection to the result and  are likely to take legal action. Several candidates have raised their objections to the result of the
contest to representatives of the Electoral Commission, and a legal challenge was imminent.

Some candidates have also asked whether Yali would be allowed to leave prison and enter the Chamber of Parliament to vote for a prime minister when Parliament sits. According to the commission, Yali contested as an independent candidate but The National learnt that he ran for a major political party which is in the thick of lobbying to form government.