The Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party hid us, the Supreme Court was told on Thursday by a witness from the Falealili No.1 election petition who failed to turn up to court when the petition was called.

The Supreme Court summoned 51 witnesses who had given affidavits in the Falealili No.1 election petition matter between Tuiloma Laniselota Lameko and Toelupe Poumulinuku, but none showed up to court when the matter was called in December last year.

The witnesses appeared on Wednesday to answer to allegations of contempt of court.

The court noted that of the 51 witnesses, one had passed away, five were excused so they could attend his funeral, which was on the day the matter was called and arrest warrants were issued for four who failed to turn up without any reason.

Tafitoala residents Malili Nofo Vaega and Faamotuletia Seu were two witnesses for whom a search was conducted, but they were never found. They were supposed to give evidence on behalf of the petitioner, Tuiloma.

After Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese and Justice Leiataualesa Darryl Clarke had accounted for the present witnesses, Vaega raised his hands and asked if he could address the court.

He told the judges that he had documentation with him that proved that the FAST Party was hiding him and his wife.

The court asked him to either engage legal counsel or present the evidence in person when the court hears their case and decides whether the witnesses were in contempt of court for failing to appear when the election petition was called.

In the 2025 general elections, Toelupe contested under the FAST Party while Tuiloma contested under the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

A Falealili chief also informed the court that some of the witnesses whose names had been called were not from Falealili.

CJ Perese said these were the witnesses who had given affidavits and then failed to appear in court. The witnesses have been told to return to court on Monday and present to the court with or without legal representation, their reasons for not attending the election petition when their names were called out.

After the witnesses failed to appear, the court proceeded with the election petition based on the affidavits of the witnesses. The outcome was that Toelupe was found to have been guilty of election corruption and his election was declared void.

The decision was later stayed after Toelupe filed an appeal.

The court has also ordered an investigation into an alleged financial settlement between Toelupe and Tuiloma for the withdrawal of the petition.

The contempt of court will be called on 18 May. On the same day, Justice Harrison will also call the matter to decide which court Toelupe’s appeal should be heard.