Appeals Court

Deputy Prime Minister, Poasi Tei, Member for Tongatapu 6 and also the Minister for MEIDECC; Finance Minister Tatafu Moeaki, Member for Tongatapu 4 and the Minister for Internal Affairs Sangster Saulala, Member for Tongatapu 7 appealed against their bribery convictions in the lead up to the November 2021 General Election.

However, their appeals were dismissed by the Appeals Court, who declared their elections are void.

Kaniva News reports three judges of the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Supreme Court and said the election of Poasi Mataele Tei, the former Deputy Prime Minister, “remains void”.

“The appellant is to pay the costs of and incidental to the Appeal, to be taxed if not agreed”, the court judgement said.

“That the costs order reflects the significance overall of the contravention of (b) which had been upheld.

“The order of the court is appeal dismissed with costs”.