Businesswoman confirm she was overseas at the time  

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 09 June 2025: Business woman May Laung Hing Cai has given evidence in court that she was in New Zealand at the time of the hit and run incident that killed Tu’uau Maletino on 21 April 2021.

May’s involvement in the high profile case currently before the District Court is based on being mentioned by the defendant, Samuelu (Sam) Su’a in his statement to the police and also on the interview he gave on the Tautai A’e program in September 2023.

According to Sam’s statement, May’s name came up during his conversation with Leala who claimed May was with him in the car suspected to be involved in the hit and run incident at Vaitele on 21 April 2021.

May said she only found out about the interview from her brother and she made time to watch the video, then wrote to the Commissioner to investigate.

The Police investigation resulted Sam being charged of defamation.

May provided her travel documents from both the Samoa Immigration Office and the New Zealand Immigration office confirming her whereabouts at the time.

During a brief cross examination by Sam’s lawyer Kathryn Dalziel, May agreed that Sam was  only repeating what Leala said to which May agreed.

May’s cross examination by Dalziel
Dalziel –         Sam did not  accuse you, it was the other person?
May –             Yes
Dalziel –         You wrote to the police on 17th September 2023?
May –             Yes
Dalziel –         The letter blamed Sam but he was only repeating Leala’s words?
May –             Yes.
Dalziel –         Well it does not make sense does it?
May –             Yes, but there were two videos. The first video was with Leala and the other video said he saw me.
Dalziel –         You are talking about Sam’s video October 2023?
May –             Yes
Dalziel –         Should not the complaint then be directed at Leala and not Sam?
May –             Yes, but it seems like there were a lot of fabricated information.
Dalziel –         You are not here to assess the case…….you direct your anger at Sam?
May –             Yes.

Throughout her brief evidence, May confirmed when asked by prosecution that she sought legal advise after watching the video and that because of the accusation directed at her, she wanted to use the law hence her letter to the Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo to investigate the allegations against her.

May was the police 35th witness but gave evidence last Friday as she was travelling overseas.