Police calm down verbal confrontation outside court 

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 15 October 2025 – Police had to intervene to calm down a heated verbal exchange when a village representative appealed to petitioner Leaana Ronnie Posini to withdraw his petition against the Minister of the Environment, Seve Tei Fuimaono of the Safata 1 constituency.

The exchange took place outside court after the first day of the hearing of the petition filed by the unsuccessful Opposition candidate and former MP, Leaana Ronnie Posini against the minister.

After yesterday’s hearing, a representative of Saleaula, which is part of the Safata 1 constituency appealed to both sides to agree to a settlement to withdraw the petition.

He appealed to Leaana that the constituency now has a Cabinet Minister and appealed to end the matter which means withdrawing the petition.

However, Leaana responded that he tried but Seve and others would not listen then he referred to an incident back in 2016 which he inferred as having personally affected him “causing holes in my body” – “ua pūpū lo’u tino.”

Before Leaana could finish, several members of the district intervened and in angry voices accused Leaana of being “disrespectful”.

It became a heated confrontation with supporters of both sides jumping in before the police intervened and calmed things down.

Witnesses accuse Seve of giving out money
Earlier in Court, several witnesses testified that it was the Minister herself who gave them money as part of her election campaign.

The witnesses Mati Time Iole, Fa’alolo Satele and Tauila Saena all claimed that it was Seve who gave them money after they met with her.

Mati told the court that sometime in August 2025, Seve and Taelega Toma came to his house and spoke with him regarding his support in the upcoming elections.

Mati said he knows Seve well as he supported her when she competed under her Fuimaono title for Falealili in the past.

He told the court that he knew what Seve wanted when she and Toma visited her and when she left, she gave Mati $500.

“I knew what the money was for as this only happens once in a while when it’s election time,” said Mati.

Asked what he did with the money he said he distributed amongst his children and those present in the house.

Counsel for the Respondent Mapusua Tanya Toailoa put to Mati that Toma is giving evidence denying Seve giving money and the reason why Seve was at his house that day.

According to Mapusua, the reason why Seve went to see Mati was because he (Mati) requested a meeting with Seve.

Mati denied any of this and said this was a one-off meeting where Seve gave him money.

He was asked if Seve visited him often at his home and he said “no.”

Has she given you money before and again he said “no”

Later he remembered he did receive money from Seve when she was a Member of Parliament for Falealili under her Fuimaono title.

Another voter Faalolo Satele also claimed that it was Seve who gave her $500.

“I know Seve well because we are both members of the EFKS Mafutaga Tina but she rarely comes to my home until that night and gave me $500,” she said.

Faalolo said she only counted the money when she went inside the house and realised it was $500 then told her children that she had to return the money.

“However, my children talked me out of it claiming that the money was given for us and that we did not ask for the money, so I gave each one $100,” she told the court.

Tauila Saena, 59 years old of Saanapu also claimed that Seve gave her husband $300 and both her and husband knew that the money was for a campaign purposes.

She told the court that she and her husband were about to visit a sick relative when Seve arrived and Mapusua put to her that the money could have been given as a gesture for their intention to visit a sick relative.

Tauila said no.

Presiding Justice Vui Clarence Nelson asked Tauila if there was any relations between her husband and Seve and she said “no”.

“How long have you been with your husband?” asked Vui.

“More than 20 years,” said Tauila.

“And you do not know if there is any connection?” asked Vui.

“No” said Tauila.

The hearing continues this morning with the hearing of the Respondent’s counter petition.