Pacific

Losing American Samoa candidate plans police complaint

13:03 pm on 3 December 2010

An unsuccessful candidate in the November 2nd general election in American Samoa plans to go to police over his allegations of election fraud.

The appeal court dismissed the election complaint filed by challenger Lopa Seti against lawmaker Bill Satele over the House election race for Tualatai District Number 16.

Lopa says Mr Satele committed election fraud by bribing voters with the delivery of refrigerators under the government's solar system programme using government vehicles and employees.

An acting associate justice John Ward says the court cannot rule on the complaint under electoral law.

With the court decision, the chief election officer should be certifying later this week election results for the Tualatai district.