1 Aug 2006

Samoa court hears last election petition

3:17 pm on 1 August 2006

Samoa's Supreme Court has been hearing evidence in the last election petition from the petitioner and leader of the Samoa Party and the Minister of Broadcasting and Telecommunications.

The two Australian judges presiding over the case have made a special visit to Savaii Island to view certain locations in the constituency of the petitioner and the first respondent.

These locations in Fa'asalele'aga number 4 constituency are raised in the petition as an important part of traditional Samoan culture.

The visit is part of the hearing of the high profile petition which started last week.

The Samoa Party leader, Su'a Rimoni Ah Chong, is alleging that the government minister, Mulitalo Siafausa, committed bribery and treating before the election.

The minister is accusing the defeated party leader of doing the same thing.