Dili – East Timor's parliament has suspended the country's justice minister after a court summoned her to face charges of corruption and abuse of power. The suspension comes amid a presidential election in which some candidates have accused the government of rampant graft.

Of the 65 members of parliament, 36 voted in favour of a resolution to suspend Justice Minister Lucia Lobato.

"Parliament suspends the functions of her excellency, the Minister of Justice... according to article 113 of the constitution of the republic," read the resolution obtained by AFP.

The article states that members of the government charged with serious criminal offences must be suspended "so that the proceedings can be pursued".

Ms Lobato, 46, is accused of colluding with a company in a tender to build eight civil registry offices in 2009 worth more than $US1 million ($945,805). A member of her staff is accused of falsifying documents that Ms Lobato signed off on. Ms Lobato was unavailable for comment.

The Dili District Court last week summoned Ms Lobato, a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), but postponed the case until her suspension. She is expected to appear before the court on May 23.

PSD vice-president Vidal de Jesus or "Riak Leman" said his party had tried twice to have the resolution passed. "I'm happy because my party is always against corruption and our party is committed to cooperating with the justice system," he said.

Mr De Jesus said it was up to the court to decide whether or not Ms Lobato was guilty, adding that the suspension would "release the party from these kinds of accusations, so the position of the party is to let the court decide".

Ms Lobato is one of six ministers under investigation by the anti-corruption commission.

East Timor, a nation of 1.1 million people which occupies half an island, held the first round of its second presidential election as a free state on Saturday.

Incumbent Jose Ramos-Horta, who lost his bid for re-election, has accused the government – led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's National Congress of the Reconstruction of East Timor (CNRT) – of corruption and nepotism.

The second round of voting, which will see two former guerilla fighters vying for the presidency, is expected to take place on April 16.