Samoa’s Deputy Ombudsman, Maualaivao Seiuli Pepe, has been cleared by the District Court of charges of uttering insulting words and using threatening words.
Samoa Observer reports Associate District Court Judge Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe delivered the decision Friday, saying the prosecution could not substantiate its submissions to the standards required by the Court.
A former Associate Minister, Maualaivao Pat Ah Him had lodged a complaint with Police in November 2020 claiming Maualaivao Pepe had used insulting and threatening words against him during a village matai council meeting for their village of Malie.
Maualaivao Pat was later banished by the village council, but that did not stop the complainant from contesting last April’s general election.
Police did not lay charges against Maualaivao Pepe until October 2021.
Nine matai called as witnesses said they were all present during the council meeting in question.
The court however said the testimonies were common events during village councils, especially when they do not agree on issues.
The witnesses confirmed that the verbal exchange did not result in a fight or a brawl and the court considered the fact that the village council did not lodge a complaint against Maualaivao Pepe after the alleged incident.
Mauialaivao Pepe’s attorney, Su’a Alex Su’a, told the court, Mualaivao Pat has also filed a separate case against his client for allegedly attempting to change village traditional protocols.
