Honiara (PACNEWS) – Central Honiara MP John Moffat Fugui and Northeast Guadalcanal MP Jamie Vokia on Friday lost their seats in two dramatic Solomon Islands High Court election petition rulings.
This was after two High Court judges found them both guilty of briberies.
Justice Rex Faukona found Fugui guilty of one count of bribery, where he gave $500 (US$60) to a person at Green Valley, Honiara, on the day before the National General Election last April.
He however, dismissed two other grounds of bribery against Fugui, who is the Minister for Education and Human Resources Development in the ruling Sogavare Government.
Following the judgment, Justice Faukona said the election of Fugui as MP for Central Honiara was not done in a free and fair manner.
“Consequently, order is hereby made that Fugui was not duly elected or returned, and that his election was void,” Justice Faukona said.
“In consequence, Fugui is hereby disqualified to contest in any by-election should that election was conducted before the date of the next National General Election,” he added.
Justice Faukona further added that the cost of the proceedings is payable to the Petitioner by Fugui.
“The Governor General, as Head of State, be informed of the result of this judgment.”
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