The newly elected MP Paula Piveni Piukala will appear at Nuku’alofa Supreme Court on February 6, 2023 charged with electoral fraud.
Paula Piveni Piukala. Photo/Kalino Lātū
The allegations against Piukala are related to his successful campaigns in Tongatapu 7 during Tonga’s November parliamentary by-election campaigns.
The allegations included bribing voters.
Piukala won the by-election after he successfully sued former Tongatapu 7 MP Sangstar Saulala over electoral bribery. As a result, the Supreme Court declared Saulala’s election void in August.
The petition against Piukala was filed by a Tongatapu 7 rival constituent, Feleti Ulakai.
It came after three Cabinet Ministers including Saulala were convicted by the Supreme Court of electoral fraud.
The other two were former Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei and Minister of Finance Tatafu Moeaki.
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