By Linny Folau

Judgments will be issued in due course, after a Special Court of Appeal last week heard election appeals by four current members of parliament and Cabinet Ministers, who were found guilty of bribery in the lead up to the 2021 November By-Election.

The Special Session held on July 28-29 heard seven appeals via audio visual link with the Presiding Justices from abroad. 

One appeal, namely Pohiva v Puloka, was listed for determination on paper (without a hearing).

No time has been scheduled for when these judgments will be delivered, but it will be out in due course.

The four Tongatapu People's Representatives to Parliament:Deputy Prime Minister MEIDECC Minister Hon. Poasi Tei [Tongatapu 6]; Minister of Finance, Hon. Tatafu Moeaki [Tongatapu 4]; Minister of Internal Affairs, Sangster Saulala [Tongatapu 7]; and former Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa [Tongatapu 10] appealed.

This was after they were found guilty at the Supreme Court of bribery in separate election petitions. After the Court declared each of their elections void, they were scheduled to be unseated by Parliament.

They then applied for a stay in the execution of their judgments pending the outcome of these appeals, which was granted by the Court.

Their fate as members of parliament depends on the outcome of their appeals. 

Meanwhile, the other appeals heard were election petitions dismissed by the Supreme Court. One was by Semisi Sika against Tongatapu 2 People's Rep, Dr 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi.

The other was by Siaosi Pohiva, who had appealed against the dismissal of his election petition against Tongatapu 1 People's Representative, Tevita Puloka, among other cases.