Paulini Curuenavuli was safely strapped in the passenger seat when photographed for the first time since news broke the singer had been charged for bribing a NSW government official for a driver’s licence.
The former Australian Idol singer smiled awkwardly when being photographed as she was driven through a private entrance at Brisbane’s QPAC Theatre yesterday afternoon ahead of taking to the stage as the lead in The Bodyguard stage musical.
She will perform one more show in Queensland tonight before the production moves to Melbourne ahead of opening there on August 24.
Producers of the stage show on Friday issued a statement of support for the singer, telling fans “the show will go on” and that the singer “remains committed to performing her role”.
On Wednesday, Paulini will appear in court to face a charge of corruptly paying a government official.
Police will allege the 34‑year‑old went into the Roads and Maritime Services offices in July last year and filled out a form falsely claiming she had a US driver’s licence.
She allegedly posed for a photograph and was given an unrestricted NSW driver’s licence.
She later allegedly transferred $AUD800 into the account of the person who served her, Faletausala Vaifale, 27, who was sentenced to a year’s home detention.
Paulini was allegedly caught out because Vaifale was being investigated over a string of false licences given out to family members, friends and Rebels bikies in return for $AUD34,582.
There is no suggestion Paulini was involved in any of the bikie related activity.
If convicted she could face up to seven years in jail.
Her lawyer said the singer was “aware of the gravity of the charges” and was treating them with “the utmost seriousness”.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
