assassination plot

Lema'i Faioso Sione and Malele Atofu Paulo, also known as King Faipopo, had applied for a bail variation, allowing them to travel back to the country where they are permanent residents.

Lema'i wanted a medical check and to be there for the birth of his first grandchild, while Malele wanted to visit his wife and children.

However, the Supreme Court denied the application, finding that no medical evidence of the pregnancy was presented nor proof of the defendant's need for Australian health care.

In his weekly radio show, Tuila'epa quoted several biblical verses to describe the people who planned to commit such unlawful actions, and their fate.

He referred to the verse in the book of Matthew that says "live by the sword, die by the sword".

Last week the police arrested and charged three suspects over an alleged plot to assassinate the Prime Minister.

A Samoan man living in Australia is also a suspect but police have yet to make a fourth arrest.

Two of the accused have been remanded in custody until 26 August 2019 for mention.

Police said they would not release further details due to the seriousness of the allegation and the investigation is ongoing.

The matter was reported to Samoa Police Service on 13 August following a tip-off by the Lauli’i Village Council.

Police said their evidence includes the use of social media both inside and outside of Samoa.

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil is reported to have confirmed that his office is carrying out the investigation, but he declined to comment further.

Samoa Observer reports two people have been detained by police for questioning in connection to the ongoing investigation.

The Lauli'i village council is helping police with their investigations, as it is alleged that a man who is under investigation is married to a woman from the village and that they both live there.

FBC News says it has sighted the email, which it says was found on a computer in an internet shop in Lautoka last week.

The shop owner, who alerted police, is under military guard in hospital after he was allegedly severely beaten by police officers.

FBC News says the attack was planned to be carried out by what it calls disciplined officers during a parliamentary sitting also attended by the acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

A police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro, says the police will not be making any comments on the ongoing investigations.