The Supreme Court has found the elected Member of Parliament for Falealili No. 2, Fuimaono Samuelu Teo guilty of bribery, consequently triggering the sixth by-election as a result of a successful election petition.

In addition the petitioner Veletaloola Fuimaono was also found guilty of five counts of bribery and treating. 

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and Justice Lesatele Rapi Vaai delivered the decision on Monday afternoon in a packed Courtroom. 

The decision effectively reduces the number of representatives for the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) to 19 with its rival Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) continuing to maintain its 26 seats.

In their decision, the Justices of the Court ruled that six charges of bribery and treating against Fuimaono were proven beyond reasonable doubt. 

The elected M.P. was accused of eight counts of bribery and treating during the recent national election period. 

Veletaloola contested under the (F.A.S.T.) banner.

The unsuccessful candidate came third in April’s polling collecting 294 ballots with Fuimaono taking the lead winning 5123 votes. 

Lawyer Magele Leone Mailo-Sua acted for Fuimaono with Leitaualesa Komisi Koria and Pose Toma representing the F.A.S.T. candidate. 

The post-election challenge is one of three remaining election petition cases pending in Court from the total of 28 petitions that were filed after the election in April.