The former General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Dr. Afereti Uili, would not comment on the outcome of the mediation held recently, between him and the woman he had been accused of having an affair with.

He told the Weekend Observer yesterday the matter was confidential so that he could not comment on it.

He said he would comment “only when the procedure is official.”

Dr. Afereti added: “My lawyer advised me not to say anything to the media at this stage.”

He urged to be patient saying it might not be long before the “mediation process” is completed. 

Dr. Afereti was holding the position of C.C.C.S. General Secretary when he was forced to step down, following reports he had a sexual affair with an unknown woman.

 He denied the allegation then and sometime later, reports said an official investigation into the matter was being carried out. 

However, in yesterday’s meeting with the Weekend Observer, Dr. Afereti maintained he could not comment at this stage.

He said: “I have no comment to make at the moment.”

He also said: “There is no point saying anything since the matter is not yet complete.

“Let’s wait for the court to clear everything then we can go ahead and say all that we want to say. “When the right time comes I will tell you everything.” 

Deputy Register of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Li'o Heinrich Siemsen, confirmed that the mediation had been completed.

 “All I can confirm is that there was a mediation between the two parties and an agreement was reached,” he said. “It is now up to the lawyers of both parties whether they want to bring the matter back to court for an official withdraw, and for both parties to resolve the matter.

“That is all I can tell you in regards to this matter.” Last month, during the Church’s Annual Conference, Dr. Afereti Uili was stripped of all his responsibilities by the Elders Committee, over an allegation of a sexual nature that had been made by an unnamed woman.

Committee Member, Rev. Elder Soti, said their decision was based on what had been presented to them about Dr. Afereti’s alleged behaviour.

“Even though Afereti denies the allegation,” he said, “the girl involved has told us otherwise. 

“So we’ve looked at the bigger picture and reached the conclusion that no Samoan lady would do such things for no reason,” said Rev. Elder Kerisiano Soti. In response, Dr Afereti said at the time: “I am innocent, I have not done anything wrong. There has been no proof of these allegations.”

He added: “The decision they’ve made is based on their opinion that I have sinned but I strongly reject the allegation.  "Not only do I reject the allegation,” he said, “but as far as I’m concerned, nothing has been proven.”