Two men have been found guilty of conspiring to murder former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
After a three-hour summing up by Senior Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, the panel of assessors delivered their verdict after 6PM Friday, March 24.
Samoa Observer reports the defendants, Malele Paulo, also known as King Faipopo, and Lema’i Faioso Sione had maintained their innocence and pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of conspiracy to murder.
Justice Vui issued an order, Monday, last week banning the publication of “any and all” details in the proceedings, especially in relation to the evidence and the testimony of witnesses.
The order was made in the interest of “securing a fair trial,” as one of the defendants in the case is currently in Australia.
The fourth co-defendant, Talalelei Pauga, also known as “Ninja”, is currently being held in a detention center in Australia awaiting extradition.
The case, which started last Monday, is connected to allegations of a conspiracy by four men in 2019 to murder former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
According to Justice Vui, efforts are underway to extradite Pauga from Australia to answer to the charges laid against him.
But, he added, it is not known when the defendant will be extradited.
One of the co-defendants, Taualai Leiloa, had already pleaded guilty to the charge and is currently serving five years imprisonment since 2020.
Photo: Samoa Observer
