TWO Tongan parliamentarians will lose their seats on Monday, guilty of election fraud.
Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure, Semisi Sika, of Tongatapu Two Constituency and former Finance Minister Lata Tangimana of Niua Constituency 17, lost their appeals against earlier convictions of electoral bribery.
Tangimana was found guilty of electoral bribery by distributing fish to voters in his constituency ahead of the election.
Sika’s election victory was voided for breaking campaign finance rules after he failed to declare a $TOP10,000 payment to a local dance school and exceeding the $TOP20,000 spending limit.
While the Tonga Electoral Commission is moving forward with administrative preparations, Parliament has yet to make an official declaration regarding the unseating.
Once Sika and Tangimana are unseated, the Tongan Electoral Commission is expected to call by-elections in the two constituencies.
Meanwhile, Representative for ‘Eua 11, Taniela Fusimalohi, successfully won his appeal after the Court of Appeal overturned the Supreme Court ruling that found his election void over allegations of bribery.
It was alleged that Fusimalohi provided Starlink internet satellite units to his constituency.
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