Malietoa

Sixteen village chiefs from Malie had been charged with contempt of court after bestowing the title while an interim order to halt proceedings was in effect.

However in court last week, the presiding judge Alalatoa Rosella Papali'i found no party had filed an application against the December 2017 decision of the Lands and Titles Court to confirm Fa'amausili Moli as the new Malietoa.

Justice Alalatoa agreed with the defence that the interim order, issued by a senior court registrar, was an abuse of power.

This month, the three branches of Sa Malietoa in Samoa seemingly reached an agreement on who should hold the paramount title, unanimously deciding to bestow it on Faamausili Moli, a son of the late head of state and title holder, Malietoa Tanumafili II.

There have been grumblings on social media but RNZI correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, said members of the family had up to three months to contest the decision.