The Electoral Constituency of Safata 1 will returm to by-elections after the Supreme Court found the elected Member of Parliament, Seve Tei Fuimaono, guilty of 6 instances of corrupt practices. The petitioner and former MP for Safata, Leaana Ronnie Mulitalo Posini, was also found guilty of 14 instances of corrupt practices out of 30 allegations brought against him in Seve’s counter-petition.
Seve Tei Fuimaono was Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and one of just five women who won their seats at the August 29 general elections. The Court decision declares the election of Seve as the MP for Safata 1 as void under Section 116 of the Electoral Act 2019.
The decision was handed down by Senior Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke, who highlight “a troubling pattern” that has become the culture of corruption during Samoa’s election process where Candidates are expected to give out money, and Voters are expecting money to be distributed throughout the Constituency.
“The evidence before the Court reveals a troubling pattern: candidates have offered payments, and voters accept and regard it as part of Samoa’s electoral process – a present that they can expect every time there is an election.” states the Court decision.
“This conduct, described in witness testimony, reflects a transactional approach to elections that undermines democratic integrity,” states the Supreme Court decision which then sets out witness testimony describing this behaviour in detail.Â
“We as a society cannot succumb to the spurious but tempting proposal that because everyone is doing it, we should condone it. The warning of the noted philosopher and theologian St. Augustine rings as true today as in ancient times:
“Right is right even if no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”
“Seats in Parliament must be earned through policy, leadership and ideas that uplift Constituencies and the nation – not secured through secret vote buying in the dark of night or by the inducements of bribery and treating,” states the Court decision.
“Such tactics are not a plan for the voter’s future, only a shortcut for a candidate’s ambition..
“Corruption erodes public trust, weakens institutions, and hollows out the foundations of democratic governance. When parliamentary seats are secured through corrupt practices, the legitimacy of Parliament and Parliamentarians is compromised, and the laws that they produce risk becoming tools of self-interest rather than instruments for peace, stability and good governance..
“Those who enter Parliament by dishonest means have no rightful place in a chamber meant to serve the people. As stated by United States President Theodore Roosevelt: “No man who is corrupt, no man who condones corruption in others, can possibly do his duty by the community.”
“The Court will report its findings on these and other matters it considers relevant to the Honorable Speaker accordingly.”
Leaana was represented by Counsels, Faimalotau Mathew Lemisio and Fuimaono Sefo Ainuu while Tanya Toailoa stood for Seve.
The ruling states that each party will bear their own costs, with the security for costs paid by both parties forfeited towards Court costs.
- 16 locals and 14 overseas-based applicants Pass the Malua Entrance Exam - October 13, 2026
- Fuafua le Malo e Toe Faatū Nofoa e Lua mo le Au Palota Tu Taulaga - October 11, 2026
- Tumau Tuia Pu’a Fuatogi Letoa i le Nofoa o Safata 2: Teena le Talosaga a Leleua - October 9, 2026
