Samoa Supreme Court judge did not leak letter says lawyer

A lawyer in Samoa says a Supreme Court judge did not leak a confidential letter as the prime minister alleges.

The letter relates to the bail hearing for one of two men accused of plotting to kill the prime minister.

It was sent to the chief executive of Courts Administration and copied to other members of the judicary.

Last week Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren leaked the letter's contents in court.

But defence lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu said its author and content only surfaced when requested by the prosecution, who were acting on behalf of the prime minister.

"Oh, so the complainant is trying to influence justice? I was very-very concerned because someone who is not a prime minister would get a good telling off from the Justice or held in contempt of court."