A senior matai of Lalomanu, Aleipata, has been charged for allegedly forging a matai registration document (pepa saofai).

Seuala Patone Seuala faces one count of using a forged document, namely a matai registration form and one count of forgery.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Through his lawyer, Tauiliili Harry Schuster, Seuala made an application in the Supreme Court this week to leave the country for American Samoa.

Justice Lei’ataualesa Daryl Clarke granted the application for Seuala provided that he returns to Samoa next month as per his itinerary.

Seuala’s hearing is scheduled for next year.

According to the charges against the matai, Seuala on the 23rd January 2019 at Lalomanu Aleipata allegedly used a forged pepa saofai, causing the Registrar to act upon it as if it was genuine.

On the same day, Seuala is accused of willfully making a false document genuine thereby committing the crime of forgery.