APIA, 18 OCTOBER 2018 (SAMOA OBSERVER) – Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli and 15 other chiefs from Malie have pleaded not guilty to the charge of contempt of court.
The others include Maualaivao Pepe; Maualaivao Pat Ah Him; Auimatagi Sa’oloto; Auimatagi Fa’afetati; Auimatagi Afi Fa’amausili; Fa’amausili Siona; Fa’amausili Chris; Muagututi’a Peter; Muagututi’a Fa’alafi; Tulasunu’i Umutaua; Tulasunu’i Ulaese; Tulasunu’i Sanele; Tuatafu Iafetaa; Seiuli Ueligatone; and Salepo Fonoti.
George Latū represented Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli while Lefau Faualo Schuster represented the rest of the chiefs. The prosecution was represented by Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa
Their not guilty pleas were entered in the District Court before Judge Leota Raymond Schuster while.
According to the Police affidavit which was read out in court, on August 17 this year the defendants of Malie conducted a ceremony to bestow the title of Malietoa Fa’amausili Moli, thereby defying a Court directed by the Village Council of Malie not to proceed with the ceremony.
“(In doing so) disobeyed the Interim Order issued by the Registrar of the Land and Titles Court on 16 August 2018, committing the crime of contempt of court,” stated the police affidavit.
Judge Leota told the defendants that the Court noted their not guilty pleas entered by their counsels and the hearing is set for March 6-8, 2019.
