Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt is on his way home after a departure prohibition order issued by the Solomon Islands Government against the Samoan lawyer and pageant head judge was lifted on Wednesday.
Samoa Observer reported that this was confirmed by his wife Fiaailetoa Charlotte Cha Mow–Brunt in an interview today.
Fiaailetoa said her husband flew out of Honiara this afternoon (Wednesday) en route to Brisbane then Auckland New Zealand where he will catch the final flight to his homeland.
“He submitted his statement early this morning and affidavit in response to what was requested from the government of Solomon Islands,” she told Samoa Observer.
Early this week the Attorney General (AG) of Solomon Islands has ordered Mr Brunt, to remain in the country while an investigation into alleged vote tampering is conducted.
Brunt was reportedly stopped at Henderson International Airport on Monday by government orders and prevented from returning to Samoa.
According to a senior government minister, Brunt has not been detained but is required to stay in the country until the investigation is completed.
The senior minister explained that the Solomon Islands Government was a major sponsor of the event, contributing $2 million SBD, and therefore had a vested interest in ensuring fairness.
“There is a high probability of vote tampering, which could amount to fraud. We have substantial evidence following an initial investigation,” the minister stated.
While acknowledging that the alleged issue is not the fault of the Samoan government, the event organizers, or the people of Solomon Islands, the government holds Brunt responsible for alleged fraudulent actions.
The minister further revealed that the decision to intervene stemmed from numerous complaints from the public on social media and those who attended the event in person.
The Government of Samoa has since requested official information from the Solomon Islands Attorney General’s Office regarding the stop order placed on Brunt.
In a press release, the Samoan Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that it is working to ensure Brunt has legal representation while awaiting further details from Honiara.
Brunt, who served as one of the five judges at the 2025 Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, has denied any wrongdoing.
“I have done nothing wrong and have been given no reason why I am unable to leave the country,” Brunt told In-Depth Solomons in an interview earlier this week.
The controversy was allegedly triggered by a Tongan judge who was dissatisfied with the results and accused Brunt of destroying the original score sheet before replacing it with another version for the final announcement.
