The hearing of former Immigration Officer, David Nomereta Uaine, has been postponed. 

Uaine from Tuana’i faces 32 criminal charges in connection to the alleged selling of Samoan passports online.  

A date has yet to be scheduled for the hearing.

Initially, the hearing for the matter was to start this week. 

However a meeting was held inside chambers before Supreme Court Justice, Leiataualesa Darryl Clarke.

The matter is set for call over this Thursday to set a new hearing date.  

Lawyer for Uaine, Unasa Iuni Sapolu told the Samoa Observer their side requires more time give it a significant case. 

“They tried to rush us, but we can’t just have a hearing just like that, we need more time,” said Unasa. 

The charges Uaine faces include forgery, corruption, bribery, improper issue of Samoan travel documents, unlawful recording of information from passport database and false representation. 

He has denied the allegations. 

Prosecuting the case was Fuifui Ioane of the Attorney General’s Office.  Fuifui informed the Court they are trying to track down witnesses because some are overseas. 

Uaine was arrested and charged earlier this year following a lengthy Police investigation over claims about Samoan passports being sold online to places as far away as South Africa.

Uaine was ordered to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions.