Singer Paulini Curuenavuli fronts court over fake licence bribery charge

PAULINI has pleaded guilty to bribing a government employee to get an unrestricted driver’s licence with court documents revealing the Bodyguard singer had driven for a year on a fake licence.

• Revealed: Singer Paulini’s shocking driving record
• Paulini could face jail over fake driving licence scam

Singer Paulini has pleaded guilty to bribing a government employee in a hearing at Mount Druitt Local Court in Sydney’s west today.

The Australian Idol favourite and The Bodyguard star entered the plea in relation to one charge of corruptly giving a benefit for an agent after she paid an RMS employee to give her a fake driver’s licence.

Paulini, whose full name is Paulini Curuenavuli, sat in the courtroom with her barrister Lisa-Claire Hutchinson - who entered the plea.

Former Australian Idol contestant and Bodyguard musical star Paulini leaves court today. Picture: AAP

Ms Hutchinson then asked Magistrate Brian Van Zuylen for the matter to be adjourned to December so that Paulini could attend a traffic offender’s program and to lawfully obtain a driver’s licence before she is sentenced.

The court heard Paulini wanted time to complete 120 hours of driving so she could obtain a full licence after completing the requirements of her learner driver’s licence.

Her solicitor Lauren MacDougall told The Daily Telegraph her client was taking measures to address her conduct.

Paulini in the hit The Bodyguard.

“Paulini has acknowledged that she is guilty of the offence by virtue of her pleas today,” Ms MacDougall told the Telegraph.

“Between now and the sentence date, quite appropriately, she is taking measures to address the conduct that led to this offence in the first place and educate and qualify herself as a competent driver,” she said.

The court also heard a majority of the 45 other people who were caught obtaining fake licences from the RMS employee were dealt with by way of a fine issued by the RMS.

Ms Hutchinson told the court her client’s employer was aware she was entering a plea of guilty and was “supportive”.

Paulini performs during a production media call for The Bodyguard in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

“Presently [she is] at the tail end of a musical in which she performs the lead role,” Ms Hutchinson said.

“Her commitment to that musical is 6 to 7 performances per week,” she said.

Magistrate Brian Van Zuylen granted an adjournment to December 15, in light of fact Paulini had entered a guilty plea and because she wanted to complete a program.

“She’s wanting to participate in programs and take actions which may well assist her in getting more lenient penalty,” he said.

The offence carries a maximum seven-year jail term but all the other people who obtained fake licences have been slapped with fines.

Gang squad detectives charged Paulini after they had been carrying out an investigation into the RMS employee she allegedly bribed.

The employee - 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.

Paulini Curuenavuli pictured today at Mount Druitt Local Court. Picture: AAP

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

Vaifale – who was pregnant at the time of her sentencing - was ordered to do one year home detention for giving out fake licences – some to outlaw motorcycle members.

Detectives attached to Strike Force Tombolo served Paulini 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.

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.

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”.