An election petition to unseat the deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party and Member-elect for Anoamaa No. 2, Lauofo Fonotoe Lauofo has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Court on Wednesday afternoon also found the petitioner and Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party defeated candidate, Toomata Norah Leota guilty of illegal activities relating to the party’s roadshow.

Lauofo, who is a lawyer by profession and a senior member of the H.R.P.P. party, won the Anoama’a No. 2 territorial constituency in the April election.  

He was also a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour in the previous H.R.P.P. administration and first entered the Legislative Assembly in 2005 through a by-election.

The Court's decision brings the total number of Members-elect representing the 42-year-old party to 19 with the newly established F.A.S.T. party still in the lead with 26 seats.

The ruling does not affect the number for F.A.S.T.  constituency seats because Toomata was the runner-up in April’s election.

Anoama’a No. 2 comprises the villages of Saoluafata, Solaua, Fusi, Salelesi, Eva, Solosolo, Luatuanuu and Leusoalii.