The election challenge over the Lefaga and Faleaseela seat for elected Member of Parliament, Masinalupe Makesi Masinalupe will be heard on Wednesday this week. 

Second-placed winner and Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) member, Sua Tanielu Sua is suing Masinalupe over allegations of bribery prior to April’s General Election. 

But the legal challenge from Sua is being contested by Masinalupe who denied the allegations and fielded a counter petition against his opponent. 

Masinalupe who is a businessman from the village of Safa’atoa Lefaga won 910 votes while Sua collected 713 ballots on polling day. 

Sua filed a petition against Masinalupe hoping to unseat the newly elected M.P. from the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party. 

The electoral challenge will be called before Chief Justice, His Honour Satiu Simativa Perese and Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa on Wednesday. 

The elected M.P. alleges that Sua committed bribery by giving money through an agent to the electors and voters of Lefaga and Faleaseela for the purpose of inducing their votes. 

The allegations stem from $5000 cash presented to the village council of Tafagamanu by Sua around March this year. 

Masinalupe also alleges that the petitioner gave $5000 tala to the Catholic church of Faleaseela uta during its church building construction work around April.  

Alex Sua is the lawyer for Masinalupe while Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt is representing Sua. 

Another petition scheduled for this week on Thursday is a petition by Veletaloola Tuimaono Lotomau against elected M.P. for constituency of Falealili No.2, Fuimaono Teo Samuelu. 

Fuimaono who has been elected by the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) as their Speaker won 513 votes from polling day. 

Veletaloola only managed to secure 294 ballots. That petition hearing will be called before Justice Lesatele Rapi Vaai and Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren. 

On Friday, the Court will also deal with a petition from (F.A.S.T.) candidate Pau Roy Ausage against H.R.P.P. elected M.P., Galumalemanu Tologata Tile for the Samatau and Falelatai seat. 

Justice Vaai and Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma is scheduled to sit in the case.