The lawyer for Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party has questioned why three of four people accused of contempt of court did not appear at yesterday’s hearing.
Samoa Observer reports Matafeo George Latu said the matter was quasi-criminal and the defendants should be in attendance.
Counsel for two of the respondents, caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Attorney General Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Annandale, presented a different view.
Speaking via video link, Dr Harrison QC said the matter was a civil one.
“This is a civil contempt and I do not accept that all respondents should be necessarily present at this stage,” he said.
The third respondent, former House Speaker Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi, according to his lawyer Ruby Drake, was wheelchair bound and could not attend because the lifts at the courts were not working.
Only the fourth respondent, Clerk of the House Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei was in attendance and his lawyer told Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese that he felt the matter was quad-criminal which was why he advised his client to attend.
Chief Justice Satiu excused the non-appearance of the three respondents and will rule on it at the next mention.
He then adjourned the matter to the 28 June 2021 for the respondents to file their responses.
Photo: FAST lawyer Matafeo George Latu.
