
The last suspect in a high-profile conspiracy to murder a veteran politician was flown from Australia to Samoa, Friday morning, after three years fighting his extradition.
Talalelei Pauga arrived from Australia and has been formally charged with conspiracy to murder.
Two police officers from Samoa travelled to Australia for the handover of Pauga, and accompanied him back to Samoa.
He has been remanded in custody until September 4.
Pauga is the final of four co-defendants accused of conspiring to murder former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, that the Supreme Court has yet to deal with.
He has been in the custody of Australian Police since August 2020, when a formal extradition application was lodged so he could answer to the charges in Samoa.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court sentenced co-defendants Malele Paulo, also known as King Faipopo, and Lemai Faioso Sione after they were found guilty of conspiring to murder Tuilaepa.
Paulo is serving 4 years, while Lemai was given a custodial sentence of 4 years and 6 months.
Taualai, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to the charge in 2020 and is halfway serving his 5-year jail term.
Evidence before the court stated that the men had planned to murder Tuilaepa at the Siusega Catholic Cathedral in August 2019.
The village matai council of Laulii reported the matter to police after they called Taualai to the village fono (council), where he was questioned about the conspiracy.
Photo: Samoa Observer