Matais imprisoned for kidnap & hog-tying a 73-year old chief

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 27 March 2025 – Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese today sentenced four Matais of Lefagaoalii village, identified as those who directed the kidnap of a 73-year-old chief from his home and later hog-tied and carried through the village using a wooden yoke on 14 September 2023.

Also jailed were seven others who carried out the instructions to implement the traditional Samoan punishment that has not been practised for some time under the application of common law.

There were originally 12 defendants but one has since passed on and the defendants were all charged with kidnapping and assault.

In passing sentence, Chief Justice Perese said the defendant’s action had brought shame on themselves and tainted the reputation of Lefagoali’i village when they kidnapped and hogtied the victim on in September 2023.

“Your action reverberated across Samoa and made headlines around our region. As part of the Alii ma Faipule, you took the law into your own hands, assaulting, hog-tying and kidnapping your 73-year-old victim. Today you are being sentenced for these crimes,” said Perese.

With regards to the defendants Vaele, Lemana, Nouata and Tauti, Perese said the starting point for sentencing cannot be less than 6 years imprisonment.

“You planned and directed the kidnapping, he said.

One of the defendants who has been sentenced to jail for seven months.

Perese said the four defendants Vaele, Lemana, Nouata and Tauti, directed the untitled men to check on the victim Sooalo Manu and if he did not comply with the village decision, then tie and carry him away on a amo.

At the victim’s house, instructions were issued for the men to surround the house so he could not escape, and the four defendants ordered to capture and tie the victim to the amo (yoke).

The other defendant’s Va’a, Ofisa, Amiga, Lemana, Pene, Tomasi and Tu’uu were following instructions from the four defendants.

“Your culpability is lower than Vaele, Lemana, Nouata and Tauti,” said Perese.

Chief Justice Perese also pointed out that Amiga and Tomasi “actively encouraged the assault of the victim and participated in hog-tying and carrying him away.”

The sentences
After perusing all evidence presented at the trial, Chief Justice Perese sentenced each defendant to serve jail time at Tanumalala prison.

1. Lemanata Nouata on the of charge of kidnapping, 2 years and 8 months imprisonment.
2. Vaele Iosia Reopeamo and Tauti Tiaki on the charge of kidnapping, 2 years and 5 months imprisonment.
3. Ofisa Setefano on the charge of kidnapping, 2 years and 3 months,
4. Va’a Alai on the charge of kidnapping, 2 years and 1 month, and on the charge of common assault 2 months.
5. Lemana Pene and Fa’avevela Lale (aka)Tu’ua Lale on the charge of kidnapping, 1 year and 9 months, and 2 months for the charge of common assault.
6. Amiga on the charge of kidnapping, 1 year and 9 months.
7. Tomasi Samuelu on the charge of kidnapping, 16 months and
8. Salapo Ui’i and Toemago Lasalo 7 months imprisonment.

The defendants had been in custody for sometime including the Christmas and New Year celebrations and the number of days they were in custody will be deducted from their sentences.