‘Aisea Silivenusi To’a, one of two plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Tourism, Hon. ‘Etuate Lavulavu withdrew his legal action, a court document said.
To’a was plaintiff number two in the election petition “with prejudice” and his withdrawal was made on October 6, the document said. The first plaintiff was Dr Viliami Uasikē Lātū.
“That as of today that my decision and action to withdraw as plaintiff number 2 is independently sound to the best of my knowledge to this election petition,” the document said.
“That is only fair that I withdrew my lawsuit against Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu as I don’t have confident of this election petition”.
Dr Latu and To’a ran as candidates for Vavaʻu 16 last year but they were defeated by Hon Lavulavu.
In a press release released to Kaniva News this afternoon it said To’a was co-plaintiff with Dr Viliami Uasike Latu in launching the election petition alleging that Lavulavu breached the election laws.
To’a said he was approached by Dr Latu and asked to join him in his attemp to sue Hon. Lavulavu after the election.
The statement said the trio all come from Leimatu’a in Vava’u and they are blood related.
Their case was believed to be the first in the history of Tonga to have three candidates from same village who competed as parliamentary candidates and eventually ended up in court because some of them did not accept the consequences of defeat they experienced after the election campaign.
