The Court of Appeal has rejected former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu’s bid to overturn a $15,000 contempt of court fine.
The fine was imposed in May 2024 after Lavulavu publicly accused a judge of bias during a 2022 online interview. Acting Lord Chief Justice Tupou ruled that Lavulavu’s remarks—broadcast on Facebook and YouTube—undermined public confidence in the judiciary and constituted contempt of court.
In the interview, Lavulavu alleged that political figures had influenced Justice Cooper’s decision in his and his wife’s fraud trial. The Attorney General brought six contempt charges, with the court finding him guilty on the most serious count.
Lavulavu appealed the fine, arguing it was excessive and that the judge’s decision was flawed. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the original ruling, affirming that his statements were likely to erode trust in the legal system.
Failure to pay the fine within four weeks of sentencing would result in a two-week jail term. As of now, Lavulavu has not served the sentence, pending the outcome of his appeal.
This case adds to Lavulavu’s legal troubles. In 2021, he and his wife, former Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu, were convicted of obtaining government funds for their private school through fraud. Their convictions were quashed in 2022 due to judicial bias, but a retrial was ordered.
