Two candidates vying for parliamentary seats have court cases pending in the courts. An independent is charged with forgery while a Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) candidate is charged with theft.

Gagaemauga No.1 independent candidate, Lauano Mulivai Lauano will appear in the District on 26 August for a charge of forgery.

The matter was heard in District Court on 14 August. Lauano pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The closing submissions from counsel will be heard on Tuesday.

The particulars of the charge is that Lauano allegedly removed a person's name from a house design and put his name on it to obtain a permit.

The charge is related to using forged documents, which is pursuant to sections 195, 196 and 197 of the Crimes Act 2013.

Lauano is a builder by trade who has constructed major church buildings like the Vaimoso Methodist and Patamea CCCS.

Meanwhile, the youngest candidate to contest in the general election, FAST Party’s Tagaloa Tupou Afa is facing a theft charge.

It has been revealed that Tagaloa's matter will be heard in the Supreme Court in November this year.

Earlier this month, Tagaloa survived being ousted from the candidate list after caretaker Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele withdrew his challenge.

Tagaloa is vying for the Vaisigano No.2 seat.