PM says removal of court files justified

faaolesa

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi believes the removal of court files from the Ministry of Justice offices to the office of the Minister of Justice is justified under the law.

He told Samoa Observert that the law gives the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Fa’aolesa Katopau Ainu’ū, the “authority” to “direct the movement of Court files.”

The newspaper had asked why the Government has not acted in relation to the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Faaolesā Katopau Ainu’u’s role in the removal of Court files from the Court to his office.

An investigation was launched by the Public Serrvice Commission after a MJCA driver reported that files had been removed and taken to the offices of the Minister of Justice.

That investigation has led to the termination of the MJCA CEO, Papali’i John Taimalelagi, but Tuilaepa believes his Minister had acted within his rights as Minister.

“In this situation, the law gives the Minister of Justice broad authority to direct the movement of files under the custody of the Registrar,” Tuilaepa said.