The District Court in Samoa has adjourned the case against suspended Director of the National Prosecution Office Mauga Precious Chang.
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.
He sought an opinion from the defense lawyer for Ms. Chang, Aumua Ming Leung Wai about the charges.
“Your honor we simply cannot go on like this with no charges being finalized. The accident occurred in May this year and the police had three months to look into the case but have yet to finalize their charges,” said Leung Wai.
The two prosecuting lawyers shared a split opinion about the matter with NPO delegated representative Brenda Heather Latu agreeing with the two current charges submitted to the court.
Independent New Zealand lawyer appointed by the Attorney General’s Office, Satiu Simativa Perese disagreed stating that they have not been allowed to have any contact with Police until the Supreme Court has ruled on a prosecutor.
He says this is why he cannot speculate whether the charges are final as Police investigations are still ongoing and it would not be logical for him to call on the finality of the current charges without consulting the Police.
Justice Vaepule also questioned the relevance of the charges not being finalized and the yet to be determined ruling on which prosecutor should stand.
The adjournment has come with strict conditions. The Mention has been set for October 14 for the District Court to hear the final charges submitted.
The deadline for the final charges to be finalized will be set on October 3 in one week where the next Supreme Court mention will be held.
Justice Vaepule says that the adjournment will be to follow up on the decision by the Supreme Court on who will be the prosecutor and it would be a fitting time to await the final charges.
However, he reiterates that by October 14, the charges he receives and are finalized on the date will be the only ones used.
Chang has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving.
Photo: Mauga Precious Chang (wearing sunglasses) outside court today