Court reserves decision on the Speakers Appeal against reinstated Opposition MPs

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 27 November 2023: The decision on the Speakers appeal on Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese’s ruling that quashed the two year suspension of the Human Rights Protection Party leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi has been reserved.

The three overseas Judges who presided over the Court of Appeal were farewelled in a special court sitting this afternoon.

Out of four cases heard in the Court of Appeal last week, only two decisions were delivered this morning.

The Speaker’s appeal stemmed from the Chief Justices ruling against Parliament’s decision to suspend Tuilaepa and Lealailepule for two years.

In May 2023, Chief Justice Perese found Tuilaepa and Lealailepule guilty of Contempt of Parliament and referred the matter back to Parliament to revisit its earlier decision as the suspension was for an “indefinite” period of time.

Parliament then set a two year suspension for both Members of Parliament and again the matter ended up in Court who quashed the two year suspension as unconstitutional and for Parliament to reinstate the MPs.

That Supreme Court decision is the focus of the Speaker’s appeal.