Singer Paulini could face jail over fake driving licence scam linked to bikies

UPDATE: Singer Paulini has been ­allegedly caught bribing a government official linked to an investigation into a violent bikie turf war. But she will still appear in the musical The Bodyguard, the production revealed.

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SINGER Paulini has been ­allegedly caught bribing a government official linked to an investigation into a violent bikie turf war.

It is an offence that carries a maximum seven-year jail term. Police will allege the former Australian Idol favourite, currently starring in The Bodyguard musical, paid a corrupt Roads and Maritime Services employee to give her a fake, unrestricted NSW driver’s licence, even though she was not qualified to get behind the wheel.

However, the 34-year-old came unstuck because the RMS worker she allegedly bribed with $800, Faletausala Vaifale, was being looked at as part of an investigation into a series of shootings in Western Sydney involving Rebels and Finks bikies early last year.

There is no suggestion Paulini is linked to any gang or bikie-related activity.

Paulini.

Strike Force Tombolo officers identified Vaifale, 27, after learning that she was distributing dozens of fake ­licences to family, friends and Rebels bikies.

Gangs Squad detectives served Paulini, whose full name is Paulini Curuenavuli, with a court ­attendance ­notice on June 30, just days before she belted out the ­national anthem at the final of State of Origin match in Brisbane.

The Bodyguard is more fizzle than sizzle

She now faces one charge of corruptly giving a benefit for an agent and is due to face Mount Druitt Local Court on August 16. Her lawyer Michael Korn told The Daily Telegraph his client was taking the allegation very seriously.

Paulini on stage. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

“She’s aware of the gravity of the charges and she has instructed us as her legal representatives to treat the matter with the ­utmost seriousness,” Mr Korn said.

If convicted, Paulini could face up to seven years in prison but Vaifale, who was pregnant at the time of her sentencing, was ordered to serve just one year in home detention.

Yesterday, the star didn’t seem to be letting her legal woes get her down as she posted a snap on Instagram of herself smiling after a workout.

Paulini Curuenavuli poses in the gym yesterday.

Court documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph ­reveal Vaifale corruptly made $34,582 by doling out 46 fraudulent licences to family members, friends and bikies between June 2015 and her arrest in July 2016.

She usually made between $500 and $2000 for each corrupt transaction but she was found with $1600 cash from a deal she had made just minutes before she was arrested­ at work on July 22 last year.

“She’s aware of the gravity of the charges”.

Paulini will face court next week. Picture: Christian Gilles

Paulini’s Sydney court date next Wednesday could be tricky for her to attend as she is performing the lead role of Rachel Marron in a Brisbane production of The Bodyguard.

She is contracted to perform 14 songs a night at the Queensland Performing Arts centre in the role made famous by Whitney Houston in the hit 1992 movie.

Police will allege the ­singer-songwriter was captured on CCTV entering the Mount Druitt RMS on July 13 last year and approaching the counter where Vaifale was busy at work.

Paulini allegedly filled out a form and lied about having a US driver’s licence, before sitting down in front of a camera and posing for her fake licence. It is alleged that she transferred $800 into Vaifale’s bank account.

The musical production appeared blindsided by the news of the Fijian-born singer’s charges.

“The Bodyguard has only just learned of the allegations this morning,” the production said in a statement today.

The musical is set to wind up its Brisbane run on Sunday.

The show then heads south to Melbourne from August 24.

“We would like to reassure patrons that the show will go on. Paulini remains committed to performing her role in The Bodyguard,” the production said.

Norman remains behind bars.

Timothy Norman has been charged with 27 offences after police allegedly found 1kg of MDMA and four rifles and two pistols buried on a Llandilo property.­

Officers attached to Strike Force Tombolo made several arrests last year in relation to a violent home invasion, a firearms syndicate, and a shooting and suspicious fire at Shalvey in Sydney’s west.

In July last year Rebels bikie Matthew Sale, now 27, was arrested and charged over the Shalvey home ­invasion in which a shot was fired into a television and a 51-year-old man was forced to the ground.

A few weeks later recent high school graduate Brea Corry, now 19, was charged over the supply of 800 MDMA pills and Timothy Norman, now 26, was charged with 27 offences after police allegedly found 1kg of MDMA and four rifles and two pistols buried on a Llandilo property­. Corry is currently on bail while Norman and Sale are behind bars pending the outcome of their cases.

Brea Corry has been charged over the supply of 800 MDMA pills.

Paulini shot to fame during the first season of Australian Idol where she was body-shamed for wearing a tight, gold dress by judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson.

He was slammed for telling the then 20-year-old to “choose more appropriate clothes or shed pounds”.