Police charge lawyer for harbouring witness

Staff Reporters/

Apia, SAMOA – 13 March 2024 – Lawyer Fetu Lagaaia has removed himself from representing witnesses Samuelu Su’a and his wife Sivai Kepu as police have laid charges against him for allegedly harbouring the couple when police were looking for them.

Samuelu, Sivai and Lagaaia were in Court last Friday for the hearing of their application to recuse District Court Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga from presiding over their case.

However, before the hearing started, prosecution informed the Court of the charges against Fetu.

The Court noted the prosecution’s call and Lagaaia then stepped aside as counsel for the defendants. He later told the media he will have to defend himself and the reputation of his law firm.

The charges stem from a notice published on the Samoa Police & Corrections Service social pages last December for Sam, Sivai and another woman to come forward.

Police finally detained Sam, Sivai and Lisemarie Schmidt at Lagaaia’s law firm two months ago and charged them with two other defendants.

Sam and Sivai have since been in custody to await their hearing day in May 2024 and their application for bail was refused by District Court Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga who they now want removed from hearing their case.

The matter has been scheduled for 12 April and the couple’s supporters are working to secure a Kings Counsel to represent them given the latest developments.