Judgment for Lavulavu in January 2016 [1]
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 - 18:12
A judgment to decide the fate of Hon ‘Etuate Lavulavu as Vava’u’s No 16 People’s Representative to Parliament is expected to be delivered in January, 2016.
This was after final submissions by counsel concluded the trial this afternoon before Chief Justice O.G. Paulsen, at the Supreme Court in Neiafu.
William Clive Edwards represented the Petitioner Viliami Uasike Latu, while Sifa Tu’utafaiva acted for Lavulavu.
The trial heard an election petition filed against Lavulavu for corruption and illegal campaigning, including bribery, in the 2014 General Election.
Latu’s side had submitted to the court that Lavulavu had personally carried out road construction in Vava’u 16, as part of his election campaign while giving money to people in his constituency the day before the election on November 27, 2014 to induce their votes.
The defendant who is the current Minister of Tourism has denied all allegation of corruption and illegal campaigning.
The trial comes to end after more than two-weeks of sitting, during which it was twice adjourned.
This is also the final working week for Government before closing down for the holidays starting on Tuesday, 22 December to resume on January 4, 2016.