Corrupt practices” and “bribery” forced no less than four by-elections following the 2011 General Election. That’s what a Parliamentary Select Committee report on the Electoral Commission Report on the by-elections 2011 has found. A copy of the report has been obtained by the Samoa Observer.The Business, Standing Orders, House and Electoral (B.S.O.H.E.) Committee, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao, noted a number of concerns during the course of the last General Election that led to the four seats being made void.“After due consideration of the difficulties and problems which were identified in the Supreme Court Certificates and Decisions, the Committee noted certain issues which arose in the recent General Election that needs to be addressed,” the report reads.“Some of these problems have led to four seats being declared void by the Supreme Court.“The Territorial Constituencies which held by-elections later on include Vaisigano No.1 Constituency, Anoama’a East Constituency, Aleipata Itupa i Luga Constituency and the Territorial Constituency of Satupaitea.”In regards to the Supreme Court Certificate For The Territorial Constituency Of Vaisigano No.1 Electoral Petition: “As a consequence of those findings of bribery and treating against the Respondent, the Court declared his election as a Member of Parliament for the Territorial Constituency of Vaisigano No.1 be void,” the Committee reports.For the Supreme Court Certificate For The Territorial Constituency Of Anoamaa East Electoral Petition, the Committee reported:“The Respondent by Decision of the Supreme Court dated 26 April 2011 was found guilty of corrupt practices and in accordance with section 112 of The electoral act 1963, his election as Member of Parliament for the Territorial Constituency of Anoamaa East was declared void.The third void seat the B.S.O.H.E. Committee noted in their report was the Supreme Court Certificate For The Territorial Constituency Of Aleipata Itupa I Luga Electoral Petition.“The Respondent by Decision of the Supreme Court dated 26 April 2011 was found guilty of corrupt practices and in accordance with section 112 of The electoral act 1963, his election as Member of Parliament for the Territorial Constituency of Aleipata Itupa i Luga was declared void,” the report reads.Finally, the Committee addressed the fourth void seat, Supreme Court Certificate For The Territorial Constituency Of Satupaitea Electoral Petition, saying: “The Supreme Court found the charges of corrupt practice of bribery and treating against the Respondent committed on three occasions outlined in the petition.”“As a result, the respondents election pursuant to section 112 of The Electoral Act I963 is declared void.”The Committee reported that as no issues arose from the subsequent by-elections, it moved to approve the Electoral Commission By-elections Report 2011 to the Legislative Assembly.In addition to La’auli, members of the Committee include Agafili Patisela Eteuati Tolova’a who serves as the Deputy Chairperson, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Palusalue Fa’apo II, Tuu’u Anasi’i Leota, Lefau Harry Schuster and Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi served as members.