SAMUEL BURNETT
Paulini Curuenavuli is still expected to perform for the Melbourne leg of The Bodyguard Australian tour after a corruption charge was laid against the star.
A spokeswoman for the NSW Police has confirmed the 34 year old former Australian Idol contestant is facing a charge of corruptly giving a benefit to an agent which carries the maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
It is alleged Curuenavuli paid money to a Roads and Maritime Services employee in exchange for an unrestricted NSW driver’s licence.
Police laid the charge on June 30 and the singer is expected to appear in Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday, August 16.
When asked how this would affect the remainder of the tour, a spokeswoman for The Bodyguard said Paulini would perform in Melbourne later this month.
“She performed last night and she was great… Everything is going as planned,” the spokeswoman for The Bodyguard musical said.
Paulini, a Fiji born singer, rose to fame after making it to the final twelve on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003.
After the reality show finished, Paulini debuted her first album, One Determined Heart, which was released in 2004 and later went on to peak at number one on the ARIA Albums chart.
The Bodyguard just finished its Brisbane season and will open in Melbourne on August 24.