Miss Pacific Islands head judge and local lawyer Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt said he was puzzled and in the dark about the grounds for the charges that the Solomon Islands government is considering charging him.

The Solomon Islands Minister of Home Affairs Junior Isikeli Vave told the media that he was considering fraud charges against Leiataualesa. 

"I witnessed everything happening that night," Vave said on the record to the media, adding that "the crowd could see; their reaction indicated that something was amiss." 

 Leiataualesa said he was puzzled at the alleged fraud charges circulating on social media. 

"I am still waiting for the grounds the stop order was based on. To date an actual copy of the stop order used has not been seen. My legal team are standing by once I receive anything," he said.

Leiataua was stopped at the airport and was not allowed on the flight back to Samoa after the Government of Solomon Islands got involved by issuing a "stop notice" for all four judges. Unfortunately, only two judges were being held as the other two judges had already left when the notice was issued. 

Leiataua refuted claims of rigging or tampering with the results and said that it was speculation and gossip regarding the rigging of the outcomes were unfounded.

Vave said after the results were announced, in which Miss Samoa Litara Ieremia Allan was declared winner everyone got up and left in disappointment.

He said that the next morning, on 9 February, numerous issues were surfacing online.

"I discovered that the votes had been tampered with," he said.

"However, on Monday, 10 February, the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant director and committee met with the Solomon Islands Pageant committee to recount the votes and found that Miss Samoa had won by 12 points, ahead of Miss Tonga, that were not accounted for the previous night."

Vave said that a spreadsheet used by the scrutineers recorded the votes, indicating that Miss Samoa had points deducted.

He said that he had spoken with the Solomon Islands' chief legal advisor about providing physical evidence for the case to press charges against Leiataualesa.

"I have had that conversation with our Attorney-General; verbal evidence is more than adequate," he said.

"The Samoan government also reached out, as he is their citizen, and I understand their concern. Once we submit our report, they will comprehend and respect our decisions as well."

He said it is not a bilateral issue between the two nations.

"It pertains to the fact that this individual from Samoa potentially committed serious actions in the Solomon Islands."

He also acknowledged that he "was wrong for posting on social media" about the events.

"But I wanted to inform people of my perspective."

Vave added that he hopes there would be neutral judges who are not from the Pacific in future events.