Levi village chiefs to file criminal charges against Sagaga 2 MP and police

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 07 November 2023: The Alii and Faipule of Levi & Alamutu, Saleimoa have decided to lodge a criminal complaint with the police against the Sagaga 2 MP, Maulolo Tavita and the police on allegations of bribery and inciting violence.

The allegations were disclosed by a village spokesman during a press conference at Levi after the village council meeting yesterday morning.

“We have lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman for a specific investigation of Maulolo as an MP,” said the village spokesman Umu Pati Mua’au.

He claimed Maulolo incited violence and “acted in very threatening manner against members of the village,” during the ongoing land dispute where Maulolo is leading his village of Afega’s claim of land that Levi villagers are residing on.

The case goes back to a 1963 Lands and Titles court decision and the parties have been seeking the court’s intervention since Afega villages’ current push to take over the disputed land.

There had been a heavy police presence in the area since the standoff claiming that the police were there to keep peace and order. However, the villagers of Levi, Alamutu and Lotoso’a claim that the police were there to stop them from intervening against the heavy machinery cutting new roads and damaging their crops and properties as Afega move in to claim the land.

After a meeting between the two sides and the police two weeks ago, one of the chiefs from Levi accused the police of favouritism and claimed that the police had been bribed.

The Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo who was present at the meeting, did not take the accusations well and called the claims reckless.

Levi village spokesman, Umu Pati Muaau talking to the media after the village meeting yesterday morning.

However Levi village said they have evidence to prove their claim.

“We have a copy of a video of police getting $2000 as a gesture of appreciating their work – “faa-aao-gagase,” Umu Pati Muaau told the media.

Umu said they resorted to the Ombudsman Office after the police declined to accept their criminal complaint against Maulolo and the police.

He said an attempt to lodge a criminal complaint with both the Police Professional Standard Unit (PSU) and the central police department in Apia “have been stalled by police who claimed our complaint could not be processed as we were unable to provide lawful reasons for the complaint.”

After further consultation and legal advice, Levi village have decided to lodge a criminal complaint with the police separate from their complaint already with the Ombudsman office.

Maulolo withheld comment when approached by the media saying he can’t say anything if the matter is with the police.