Five Election Petitions Filed in Samoa

17170410

The Speaker of Samoa’s Parliament  and four other Members of Parliament in the ruling HRPP party are facing corruption, bribery and treating allegations after this month’s general elections.

Five election petitions were filed today at the end of the official 10 day period given under the electoral Act for petitions.

Newly elected speaker, Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi, is facing bribery and treating allegations from former ruling party MP, Aiono Tile Gafa.

Defeated Tautua Samoa party leader, Palusalue Faapo II, has challenged the winning MP for Safata Sisifo constituency, Le’ana Ronnie Posini, on the same allegations.

The associate minister for telecommunications and information technology and former Tautua Samoa party whip, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, is facing corrupt practices allegations in a case filed by a former MP, Ale Vena Ale.

He has alleged more than 400 voters in the Faleata i Sisifo district were not eligible to vote because they had not met the requirements of the Electoral Act.

The fourth petition was from an unsuccessful candidate for Falelatai and Samatau constituency, a former senior judge of the Lands and Titles court, Anae Misa Pita Anae.

He claims that re-elected MP, and associate minister for natural resources and environment, Taefu Lemi engaged in bribery and treating of voters.

The first election petition on bribery and treating was filed more than a week ago in the Alataua i Sisifo constituency.

Unsuccessful candidate and former MP, Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa, filed the petition against the elected woman MP, Aliimalemanu Alofa Tu’uau.

Chief executive of the ministry of justice, Papalii John Taimalelagi, says a date has not been set for the petitions to be heard.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,