District Court

Samoa Observer reported police sergeant Khamtahn Stanley and Ulugia Lomalasi Laufili pleaded guilty to a charge of causing injury to a 20-year-old male of Vaiusu who died days later.

In the Supreme Court on Thursday, private prosecutor Leinafo Taimalelagi-Strickland appealed the court's discretion to discharge the defendants without conviction.

She told the court, presided over by Justice Lesatele Rapi Va'ai, of the gravity of the offence and the advanced aggravating factors.

He was also discharged without conviction. The sentence was handed down by District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Papalii.

Toeolesulusulu pleaded guilty to three related traffic offences through his lawyer Muriel Lui in July.

Toeolesulusulu was named the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Minister of Tourism during the FAST party May 24 swearing-in ceremony.

However immediately after the charges was filed, he stepped down as a Cabinet Minister.

The selection of Michael Alaifatu Mika, a Samoan New Zealander, is being hailed as the vanguard of diversity and representation, the embodiment of Te Ao Mārama - a reflection of the changing judicial needs of a multicultural Aotearoa.

At a powhiri at Waiwhetū Marae, Judge Mika described taking up the new role as a homecoming.

The 53-year-old grew up in Kairangi - the Hutt Valley. His mother Fou and father Salafai, the Methodist faife'au (reverend), drilled into him and two younger brothers a strong sense of direction and tautua, or service.

The defendant, Suikei Mayang, was released as the prosecution did not oppose his application for bail.

He was ordered to surrender his travel documents and to sign in twice a week at police headquarters in Apia.

The court heard the defendant was only charged with bribery as a result of the police investigation but a Customs inquiry was still underway.

He was reported to have offered a senior customs official a bribe worth around $US1800.

Mr Mayang will appear again in court on 11 June.

The application was filed by the New Zealand Crown Law office on behalf of the government there.

Tulisi Leiataua has been charged with nine counts of sexual violation by rape, three counts of indecent act of a young person, one count of indecent assault, 12 counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, and six charges of an indecent act on a child.

The court heard evidence and then ruled the charges are extradition offences of which the maximum penalties are not less than 12 months for each offence.

The accused is Malele Atofu Paulo, a Samoan based in Australia, who is also known as King Faipopo.

The decision of Justice Alalatoa Rosella Papalii, was delivered last Friday after a hearing of a motion of no jurisdiction by the defendant's lawyer.

According to the prosecution the defendant had posted a video in Australia alleging the prime minister was involved in a plot relating to the murder of cabinet minister Luagalau Leva'ula Kamu in 1999.

The case is to continue from this Wednesday when prosecution and defence lawyers will agree on a trial date.