As you heard, seventy nine persons signed the petition twice and four persons did so three times. According to the Recall Representative Act, that is an offence and Tamai says that a file is being prepared of all those individuals who signed the petition more than once for the revision of the Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl-Lyn Vidal.
JOSEPHINE TAMAI
“Also that it is an offence under Section 9A of the Recall of Elected Representative Act No. 20 of 2010, to forge a signature on a recall petition and to willfully sign a petition more than once. I must state that any offence under this act is punishable by a fine not exceeding 1000 dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to both such fine and imprisonment. On the issue of prosecution, I must say that a file is being compiled for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions who will advise on a matter of offences.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“The role of the Elections and Boundaries Office was to verify the signatures and those signatures were up there; the 79 and the 4 petitioners who signed 3 times, yes, they were there more than once, as your record shows but they were there, they did sign on that petition.”
JOSEPHINE TAMAI
“But it’s like I said, you committed an offence.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“I understand, ma’am; you said that three times but does not mean that because you committed an offence where does it say that your signature then is rejected because you committed an offence?”
JOSEPHINE TAMAI
“It won’t say that anywhere; similarly to how you won’t see saying that you accept it.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“But again, you’re satisfied that you’re legally right to reject those signatures.”
JOSEPHINE TAMIA
“Yes, I am satisfied. You won’t find anywhere in the Act to say that you have rejected those; similarly to how you won’t find anything in the act to say that you accept them.”
LOCAL REPORTER
“So, that can be taken to court and disputed?”
JOSEPHINE TAMAI
“Well as far as we know these days anything can be taken to court; so, it’s possible.”
The People United Party is holding a press conference tomorrow afternoon where they will address the results of the Elections and Boundaries
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