13 Nov 2014

Election petitions filed in American Samoa

12:17 pm on 13 November 2014

Two complaints relating to last week's general election in American Samoa have been filed with the High Court.

The losing candidate in the District number 9 election for the house of Representatives and incumbent Fapule Vaamua Henry Sesepasara names the winner of the Pago Pago election Meauta Mageo and Election Commissioner Tuaolo Fruean as respondents in his complaint.

Mageo polled 356 votes while Vaamua received 292 ballots.

Fapule is asking the court to determine that Meauta committed election fraud and that his victory last Tuesday be invalidated.

Fapule alleges that Meauta was convicted in Hawaii for failure to pay child support and was also convicted of a felony in Oregon in 2012 .

The second complaint was filed by Fatumalala Al Shehri, on behalf of herself and Samatua Edwin Hollister who unsuccessfully challenged House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale in the District 14 House election.

Savali received 272 votes , Samatua got 108 votes while Fatumalala received 48 votes.

Fatumalala addresses her complaint to Chief Justice Michael Kruse and makes general observations about the conduct of the elections which she says violate election law.