By Linny Folau
The Supreme Court has voided the election of Niuas 17 People’s Representative Lataifaingata’a Tangimana, finding that he engaged in bribery by giving fish to voters to influence their votes ahead of the November 2025 General Election.
Tangimana, who was later appointed Minister of Finance, was unseated following an election petition filed by rival candidate ‘Aisake Finau.
In a judgment delivered on 24 March in Nuku’alofa, Justice Garlick found beyond a reasonable doubt that fish were distributed to voters in September 2025, within three months of the 20 November election, as an inducement to vote.
The court found that the fish were given indirectly through Tangimana’s sister-in-law, ‘Ilaise Leua, to Mele Folau and Lavinia ‘Afa in Ma’ufanga.
“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the respondent used ‘Ilaise Leua to give the fish in order to influence the vote,” Justice Garlick said.
Tangimana denied any involvement, arguing that ‘Ilaise acted independently and without instruction from him or his wife, Makalita. However, the court rejected this claim.
Witnesses testified that when delivering the fish, ‘Ilaise indicated it was connected to Tangimana’s campaign, saying she had been asked to remember him in the election. The judge accepted this evidence as truthful.
The court found ‘Ilaise to be an unreliable witness, noting inconsistencies in her testimony and her admission under cross-examination that she had lied about aspects of her evidence, including whether she accompanied Tangimana to a voter’s residence.
Justice Garlick also found Tangimana’s own evidence lacked credibility.
“He consistently avoided giving direct and straightforward answers… I regret having to conclude that the respondent was not truthful,” the judge stated.
While additional allegations— including attempts to have the petition withdrawn—were considered, the court found they did not add to the bribery finding.
The judge concluded that the act of giving fish to voters amounted to bribery under section 21 of the Election Act (2020 Revised Edition) and was serious enough to invalidate the election.
Accordingly, the court declared Tangimana’s 20 November 2025 election void and ordered that he be unseated from the Legislative Assembly. The decision has been formally certified to the Speaker of Parliament.
