Francis Fonseca denies bribery allegation

Francis Fonseca

On Wednesday, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin granted leave for the United Democratic Party’s Lee Mark Chang to file an election petition against Francis Fonseca, leader of the People’s United Party and area representative for Freetown.  Chang, who contested the seat in the recent General Elections, is accusing Fonseca’s agents, Albert Vaughn and Hugh Bodden of bribery. During the submissions made by attorney Michael Young, affidavits were read in which seven persons admitted to accepting payoffs in order to vote for Fonseca.  In a press release issued by the P.U.P. Secretariat today, Fonseca promised to defend the integrity of his success in the Freetown Division stating, “I categorically and unequivocally deny any suggestion or allegation of bribery on the part of anyone associated with the P.U.P. Freetown Election Victory.” Fonseca goes on to say that his win in Freetown was through hard work and that he will not allow the collusion of a failed candidate and a couple of paid U.D.P. supporters to thwart or undermine the decision of the people of Freetown.