Former Idol contestant Paulini Curuenavuli 'too busy' to instruct lawyer after bribery charges

Former Australian Idol contestant Paulini Curuenavuli has been too busy to properly instruct her lawyer after being charged with bribing a RMS employee to get an unrestricted NSW driver's licence.

Curuenavuli, who shot to fame in 2003 as a contestant on the first season of Idol, is accused of paying the Roads and Maritime Services worker $850 in exchange for the licence.

The 34-year-old didn't appear at Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday with her lawyer, Michael Korn, telling the court he's been unable to receive instructions from the singer as a result of her busy schedule.

A 27-year-old RMS worker was charged in July 2016 for making false documents and no longer works for the department, NSW Police has said previously.