HIGH Court Judge Howard Lawry has granted leave for the withdrawal of the petition filed against filed against Member of Parliament (MP) for South Guadalcanal Rollen Seleso.
Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice, who represents the petitioner – former MP David Day Pacha – on Monday formally made the application to withdraw the petition after no one came forward as a substitute to continue the case.
This followed Mr Pacha’s decision to withdraw the petition due to financial constraints.
On the last court date, Mr Suri published the Notice for the withdrawal of Mr Pacha’s petition in one of the local newspapers.
The reason for advertising Mr Pacha’s withdrawal is to give chance to anyone who wants to substitute him and continue with the petition.
In court on Monday, Mr Suri said he emailed the High Court registrar on Friday to check if anyone has responded to the notice advertised for a substitute but he did not receive a response.
Justice Lawry also asked if anyone present in the gallery on Monday may wish to become a substitute but received no response.
Mr Suri then made the application for the withdrawal of this petition case.
The court heard that the $40,000, which Mr Pacha deposited when he filed the petition case, will be equally split between the Respondent (Seleso) and the petitioner.
Mr Pacha filed the petition after he lost his election bid in the April 17 National General Election.
He initially alleged about five counts of election offences but after assessing the petition, Mr Suri dropped all counts, except for one count of Undue Influence.
The count of Undue influence will be effectively discontinued due to the withdrawal of the petition.
Mr Seleso has engaged Rano & Company law firm.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
