Three newly appointed Samoa government ministers are facing allegations of bribery and treating in election petitions.
The three are the Education Minister, Magele Mauiliu Magele, the Finance Minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, and the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Manu'alesagalala Enokati Posala.
A total of ten election petitions were filed in the court office.
Our correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia reports.
"The leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa party, Vaai Vailupe Va'ai, is also facing the same allegations in a petition by unsuccessful HRPP candidate, Gafoaleata Tufuga. The newly elected deputy speaker, Agafili Patisela Eteuati, is facing a petition over bribery and treating by a former opposition MP, Taua Faraimo who was a Tautua Samoa candidate. Most of the ten election petition cases are from HRPP candidates against members of their party who won. HRPP's leader and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, before the 2011 election, strongly advised his more than one hundred candidates not to file election petitions against their own party members, but instead allow the winners to serve their constituencies for the next five-year parliamentary term."
