A man has pleaded guilty to a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.

Taualai Leiloa entered a guilty plea before Supreme Court Justice Tafaoimalo Leilanu Tuala-Warren this morning when the case was called for mention.

That charge relates to allegations that between 30 April to 12 August of this year, Taualai Leiloa and Talalelei Pauga - who is also known as 'ninja' and is from Australia - conspired to murder Tuilaepa. 

His sentencing hearing has been scheduled on 30 September, 2019. 

The other defendants Lemai Sione and Malele Paulo also appeared in Court for criminal mention.

Leiloa was the third suspect to have been charged and had been remanded on bail while the other accused plotters had been in custody.

Lauli'i's Village mayor, Fa'alogo Sasauli Moli, had earlier told the Samoa Observer the village decided to allow Leiloa - whose wife is a resident of that village - to return after he was banished when his role in the alleged plot first came to light. 

The village made the decision to re-accept him at the request of the Police, pending the outcome of the investigation.