The Samoa Supreme Court has dismissed a case by former Attorney General Savalenoa Mareva Betham-Annandale claiming unfair dismissal in August 2021.
The former AG had claimed that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa did not have the powers to terminate her employment.
The issues surrounding her dismissal follows the ‘Constitutional Crisis’ in 2021.
In its orders, the Supreme Court said the former AG’s claims for judicial review and damages were dismissed and judgment was entered for the Prime Minister on both claims.
The court said it’s satisfied that “the Former Attorney’s serious failures in both respects coupled with her failure to discharge her constitutional duty to uphold the dignity of the judiciary and the rule of law showed her inability to maintain the necessary degree of professional independence and demonstrated her unsuitability to retain the office of Attorney General.”
The court also ordered the former AG to pay the Prime Minister $5000 together with usual disbursements.
