Former Samoa PM

Guilty verdicts for two men who conspired to kill a former Samoa PM

Samoa's Supreme Court delivered the decision on Friday, in the trial of Malele Paulo and Lema'i Faioso Sione.

The Samoa Observer reports the defendants Paulo also known as King Faipopo, and Sione had maintained their innocence and pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of conspiracy to murder.

In all - four men were charged in 2019 of conspiring to murder Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Taualai Leiloa pleaded guilty and has been in prison since 2020.

Former Samoa PM assigned police security detail

The Commissioner confirmed this in an interview with Radio Polynesia today, citing section 5 bracket c of the Police service act 2009 which provides protection for members of the public. 

“It has nothing to do with him being a leader of the opposition party, but the mere fact that Tuilaepa has been threatened. 

Also considered was the incident that occurred last Friday, which led to the decision,” said Auapa’au. 

He said under the law anyone that feels threatened should be given a protective detail while the police assess the threat level.