Vaimauga #3 Electoral Petition Commences
Lautimuia Uelese Vaai at the swearing in at Parliament.
Photo : Parliament Of Samoa
Yesterday, two significant petitioner witnesses testified during the opening of the hearing for the Vaimauga #3 electoral petition.
Samau Leatigagaeono Solitamalii Timani, a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party in the most recent general election, is contesting Lautimuia Uelese Vaai of the FAST Party's selection for the Vaimauga #3 electoral seat in court.
Samau accuses Lautimuia of bribery and treatment in relation to a roadshow hosted by the FAST Party on the 17th of February, when $5,000 tala was given to the constituency and food and drinks were provided with the intention of manipulating votes. The roadshow was held in the Maagiagi EFKS church hall.
When the Secretary of the HRPP, who is also charged, gave two voters a $100tala apiece, Lautimuia also accuses Samau of bribery and treatment.
Additionally, it is believed that a former HRPP MP named Fuimaono Te'o donated $500tala to the district on the day Samau was formally nominated. The petitioner's two key witnesses testified yesterday morning. The petitioner also presented a live video of the Roadshow on February 17th in court as an exhibit.
The footage showed Theresa Coffin, one of the witnesses. She said in court that following procedures, the FAST Party Secretary handed the Constituency $5,000tala.
The petitioner's two key witnesses testified yesterday morning. The petitioner also presented a live video of the Roadshow on February 17th in court as an exhibit. The footage showed Theresa Coffin, one of the witnesses. She said in court that following procedures, the FAST Party Secretary handed the Constituency $5,000tala.
She further asserts that it was done to bribe the in-person voters in order to get them to support Lautimuia. The court was also informed by Ms. Coffin that Lautimuia's family provided meals.
The additional witness Sarona Lefu mirrored Ms. Coffin's account. She claimed to have been there for all of the formalities, including the cultural presentation between the constituency and the FAST Party.
However, Ms. Lefu was questioned by Lautimuia's defense attorney during cross-examination. Because it was already filled, the witness responded that she wasn't. Lefu was outside when Lagaaia questioned her about how she learned about the $5,000 donation to the constituency.
The witness testified before the court that she was given Ms. Coffin's statement to read and that's how she learned about the $5,000.