3 Dec 2010

American Samoa election appeal turned down

7:04 am on 3 December 2010

The American Samoa appeal court has dismissed the election complaint filed by challenger Lopa Seti against Bill Satele over the House election race for Tualatai District #16.

Lopa alleged that Satele and his agents practiced fraud in obtaining the votes that saw him win the election.

The only relief available to Lopa is for another election to be held, but the law states that any subsequent election must be held no later than 30 days after the election in dispute.

Associate Justice John Ward, said the court found that there would be no adequate time in which to conduct another election for this particular office.

He said the court strongly believes that if there is any relief for Lopa, it would lie within the realm of a criminal prosecution.