Former ‘Australian Idol’ star Paulini Curuenavuli has pleaded guilty to bribing a Roads and Maritime Services employee to unlawfully obtain a driver’s licence.
The 34-year-old’s barrister entered the guilty plea on her behalf at the Mount Druitt Local Court in Sydney’s west on Monday.
The plea came as it was revealed in court that the singer had clocked up 11 driving charges since obtaining her learner’s licence in 2002 including, driving unaccompanied while on her learner’s licence, driving while suspended, speeding and driving without displaying her learner plates.
Curuenavuli, the current star of The Bodyguard musical, is accused of paying RMS customer service employee Faletausala Feesili Vaifale $850 in exchange for an unrestricted driver’s licence, despite not being qualified to get behind the wheel.
NSW Police earlier alleged that they had CCTV footage of the performer walking into the Mount Druitt office of NSW Roads and Maritime Services in July of 2016. They allege she later transferred money into the bank account of the official.
If found guilty, she could face a potential jail sentence of up to seven years.
WATCH: Paulini said “no comment” when asked how she felt about the charge. Post continues…
As reported by The Daily Telegraph, Vaifale was already being investigated for distributing fake licences to family, friends and associates of the Rebels bikie gang. (Now To Love is not suggesting Paulini was affiliated with bikie activity).
Last year, Vaifale pleaded guilty to charges of making a false document to influence the exercise of public duty, corruptly receiving a benefit while an agent and dealing with the proceeds of crime, and was sentenced to 12 months home detention.
Paulini rose to fame after coming fourth on the reality singing show Australian Idol in 2003. She’s currently the star of The Bodyguard Musical in Brisbane where she plays the lead role of Rachel Marron.
Magistrate Brian Van Zuylen will hand down his decision in December.
