The Member of Parliament (MP) for Lau Baelelea in Malaita Province, Ben Maenu’u, will continue his four-year term after the High Court struck out the petition filed against him on Wednesday.

The petition was filed by the former MP for Lau Baelelea following his defeat in the joint National General Elections held on April 17, 2024.

Justice Michael Pitakaka granted the strike-out application on the grounds of overlapping jurisdiction errors.

Maenu’u’s lawyer, Peter Teddy, argued that the petition was based on defective pleadings. He stated that the petitioner’s claims were criminal in nature, whereas election petitions are civil matters, making them beyond the court’s jurisdiction.

As a result, the court ruled to dismiss the petition.

Mr. Maenu’u is the latest member of the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) to win an election petition case.

Last month, MP for West Honiara, Namson Tran, MP for East Choiseul, Manasseh Sogavare, and MP for North West Guadalcanal, Francis Belande Sade, also successfully defended their election victories in court.

Photo caption: Member of Parliament for Lau Baelelea, Ben Maenu’u with lawyer Peter Teddy and supporters after winning his petition case at the High Court Wednesday.