Cop this for a first-thing-Friday-morning yarn. Former Australian Idol star Paulini is facing potential jail time over allegations that she bribed a Government official who was already under investigation for links to a bikie gang.
We reiterate.
Paulini Curuenavuli will face court to answer charges relating to an alleged bribery incident in which she paid off a Government official who was already on the radar of police. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in jail. Seven years. Jail.
The yarn goes that the 34-year-old allegedly paid a NSW Roads & Maritime Services official $800 to give her a fake, unrestricted NSW driver’s license, despite the fact that she was not qualified to drive.
NSW police are alleging that they have CCTV footage of Paulini walking into the Roads & Maritime Services office in Mt Druitt in July of last year. Police also allege that she later transferred the money into the account of the RMA official.
That employee was reportedly already under police investigation for distributing fake driver’s license to friends, family, and associates of the Rebels bikie gang. The police investigation into Paulini does not suggest she has any ties to the Rebels gang herself.
Paulini, who famously appeared on Idol back in 2003, is currently touring as the lead role in the national production of The Bodyguard: The Musical. Her court date is scheduled for next week, just two days after her touring commitments with the production come to an end.
She has not commented publicly on the charges laid against her.
