Some lawyers have expressed concerns about publicising pictures of drug suspects that were arrested by police a week ago, and among them was a 15-year-old, who was also publicly shamed.

A senior lawyer said she was shocked when she saw the notice by police with the mugshots of the suspects and the names of their respective villages.

"Most of these suspects I know haven't entered their pleas before the court, and my legal opinion is that the police should have waited until these people are proven guilty in court," she said.

"I don't think this move is appropriate."

The same reaction was echoed by another private counsel, saying he doesn't support what the police are now doing to these suspects.

"I can see now the people are sharing photos and identities of these suspects on social media and attacking them, but it's unfair because they haven't been proven guilty," he said.

Speaking of anonymity, this counsel said this should stop because the law speaks for itself, but judging the suspects without a court's judgment is just not right.

Another lawyer, with almost 20 years of experience, told Samoa Observer that what the police had done is very wrong.

She also highlighted that the initial notice was publicising the identity of a 15-year-old juvenile.

"I can't believe it, the police should have a better understanding of the law, and if it's an order from the Prime Minister, the acting commissioner should advise him about the consequences of making such a decision for the suspects," she said.

"I mean, these people are innocent until they are proven guilty in court; if, for a reason, some of them will be cleared from all these charges, this notice has already done damage to their reputation," she added.

The notice, which was posted by the Ministry of Police and Prisons, included 51 drug suspects with all their villages, full names and ages.