Statement On Sunday 25th June 2022, we learned that one container of empty metal ballot boxes for Southern Highlands that was being transported by the PNGEC logistics team to Hela was intercepted by the police in Mendi and is currently being held at Mendi Police Station together with containers of additional nonsensitive election materials. I wish to explain the circumstances of this delivery. I confirm that on 22 June 2022, I instructed that the PNGEC logistics convoy redirect two containers of empty metal ballot boxes from Southern Highlands to Hela and Enga Provinces for the following reasons: -Due to an ongoing 2017 election petition, SHP was not able to access the containers to obtain non-disputed empty metal ballot boxes at the time of dispatch of strategic materials, therefore the PNGEC sent three containers of empty metal ballot boxes to SHP. -Whilst these containers were in transit to SHP, approval to access the containers in SHP occurred and as a result the stocktake of em