Talalelei Pauga

Samoa Observer reports Talalelei Pauga, who is currently in Australian police custody awaiting extradition, had his application heard by Justice Lesatele Rapi Va'ai in the Supreme Court last Thursday.

Lawyer Tufuga Fagaloa Tufuga, acting for Pauga, told the court his client claims the arrest warrant was not properly issued as it was signed by a court registrar and not by a judge of the court.

The court was told Pauga has a pending hearing in Australia on the extradition order which is scheduled for June.

Talalelei Pauga has been in custody in Queensland for nearly a year after the former Samoan government sought his extradition over an alleged assassination plot.

"It's had a real strain on him and also on his children, his whole family as well," said friend Tracey Nelson.

"They're all stressed out. They don't know what's happening."

A statement from the AG’s Office said Mr Pauga is one of the three defendants, who have been charged with the offence of ‘conspiracy to commit murder’.

The statement said ‘Conspiracy to commit murder’ is a serious offence under section 106 of the Crimes Act 2013, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

“There is sufficient evidence to support the charge against Mr Pauga and he must be brought back to Samoa to stand trial.”

Samoan-Australian Pauga is wanted by Samoan authorities over an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Pauga is being held in custody and over a week ago, a Brisbane magistrate rejected his application to be released while he fights the extradition attempt.

The Attorney General has confirmed that the Office has made a lawful request to the Australian Attorney Generals Department in February 2020, to extradite Pauga, who is alleged to have committed the offence of ‘conspiracy to commit murder’.