Malele Paulo, famously known as blogger ‘King Faipopo’ on social media, has been released on parole after serving two and a half years of his four-year sentence for conspiring to murder former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in 2019.
Samoa Global News reports he was among 55 convicts released on parole before Christmas according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration, Papalii John Taimalelagi.
Papalii said 71 prisoners applied and 55 were accepted after a thorough review of their files including records of behavior during time served.
The Samoa Prisons Parole Board, which includes a Supreme Court Judge as Chair, the CEO of the Ministry of Justice, the Commissioner of Prisons and three other members, meets regularly to consider applications.
In 2023, King Faipopo was found guilty of conspiring to murder former Prime Minister Tuilaepa and former Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Su’a Egon Keil.
Lema’i Simanu “Manu” Faioso Sione was sentenced to four and a half years while Malele Paulo aka King Faipopo was handed a four year sentence by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson in August 2023.
