Samoa District Court

Samoa anti-vaxxer Edwin Tamasese on trial this week

Tamasese was arrested in December last year for social media comments criticising the government's mass vaccination operation during last year's measles outbreak, which claimed 83 lives.

He is charged with one count of interfering with government agencies by posting anti vaccine comments on social media.

In January the accused was released on bail, on condition he refrain from posting anything related to the measles crisis, and not to give medication or vitamins to patients.

     

Samoan man fined over fake child abduction ring stories

Liua Savaiinaea was in the news last year when he came forward with information about the ring roaming the streets in a van trying to lure young girls.

His story caused police to launch an investigation.

Savaiinaea took police to the supposed scene of an abduction attempt which he claimed to have foiled.

He later confessed that he had made up the story and he was charged with giving false information.

He now has until Thursday to pay the $US200 fine or he'll be jailed.

 

     

No charges finalized yet in suspended NPO Director's court case

Justice Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai told the court the adjournment follows two main reasons where the Supreme Court has to rule on a prosecuting side and the charges have to be finalized.

The charges were to have been finalized today.

“I do not have the authority and nor do I care who prosecutes the case. All I want is a prosecutor from the Supreme Court’s ruling and the final charges because I don’t want any surprise charges to come in later during the hearings,” said Justice Vaepule.