Malietoa Moli and Malie chiefs in Court for contempt

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 03 October 2018, 12:00AM

Malietoa Moli and 15 chiefs from the village of Malie, who have been charged with contempt of Court, appeared before District Court Judge Fepulea’i Ameperosa Roma yesterday.

The others include Maualaivao Pepe, Maualaivao Pat Ah Him, Auimatagi Sa’oloto, Auimatagi Fa’afetati, Auimatagi Afi Fa’amausili, Fa’amausili Siona, Fa’amausili Chris, Muagututi’a Peter, Muagututi’a Fa’alafi, Tulasunu’i Umutaua, Tulasunu’i Ulaese, Tulasunu’i Sanele, Tuatafu Iafetaa, Seiuli Ueligatone, and SalepoFonoti. 

Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa, of the Office of the Attorney General, asked the Court to adjourn the matter for two weeks so the charges can be finalised.

Lawyers Lefau Harry Schuster and Matafeo George Latū, who represented the chiefs and Malietoa Molī respectively, did not object to the application to adjourn. 

Judge Fepulea’i granted the application to adjourn and set October 16, 2018 as the date for the charges to be finalised and called before the Court.  

Court documents allege that the defendants defied an order of the Court not to proceed with the bestowal of the Malietoa title at Malie.  

According to the police affidavit, the defendants of Malie undertook an unlawful act on August 17, 2018 by conducting the ceremony for the title bestowal of Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli, therefore defying the Court order directed to the Village Council of Malie not to proceed with the ceremony.

“In doing so disobeyed the Interim Order issued by the Registrar of the Land and Titles Court on August 16, 2018, committing the crime of contempt of court.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 03 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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