Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu

Aged 71, he had recently returned from New Zealand where he was undergoing treatment.

Patu was appointed Attorney General in 1988 and became the second Samoan to be appointed Chief Justice in 1992.

He served until his retirement in 2019.

He was nominated as a HRPP candidate for this year's election but withdrew for medical reasons.

Last week the Court of Appeal in Samoa declared a decision made last August by the former Chief Justice could not stand, that it was unsafe.

Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu had reserved his decision in 1997 and after retiring last year was given additional time to clear a backlog of unresolved cases.

John Upton said he believed Patu's actions were disgraceful.

"The reason why I say that is that it continued over a period of many many years and it involved many, many cases.