Public Trustee Threatens to Sue Over Social Media Post

By Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 04 September 2024 –  The Public Trustee, Tuitoga Christina Te’o Asi is threatening a defamatory law suit against former Electoral Commissioner, Papali’i Malietau Malietoa if he does not comply with their demand to remove a public post on Facebook.

Tuitoga wrote to Papali’i 21 August 2024 that “we demand that you immediately remove your Facebook post referred to in paragraph 01 above.”

The Public Trustee also gave Papali’i a Wednesday 21 August 2024 to comply with their demand.

“Failure to remove the post will result with the Public Trust Office filing a formal complaint against you with the police for publishing false statements causing harm to the Public Trust Office reputation,” said the letter.

“Please note that your (Papali’i) action constitutes a significant breach of trust and confidentiality not only amongst the beneficiaries of the above estate but also with our office as the Administrator of the above estate,” said the Public Trustee in the letter.

The Public Trustee also emphasized that sharing of such information with the public is prohibited without the Public Trustee’s proper notification or consent.

“Your public accusations of theft against the Public Trustee are unfounded and defamatory and such statements are not only harmful to the reputation of the Public Trustee Office but also to the trust placed in us by the community,” said the letter.

According to Papali’i, his family is currently in discussion with the Public Trustee over his late grandfather Malietoa Tanumafili 11’s estate and it was during their correspondence that a copy of the Faualo family estate document was sent with his family documents hence his possession of the information.

“I call this unprofessional,” said Papali’i.

On the theft accusation, Papali’i noted that the Public Trust fee for undertaking administrative work for their family estate is more than $100,000 which is much more than what is left to be divided amongst his family.

He also said that his family was informed that his grandfather’s funds have been transferred to UTOS, however, when he checked recently, he found the funds under the Public Trust name and not his grandfather, hence his allegation of theft.

To date, the post has not been removed and a lawsuit has yet to be filed against Papali’i.