Couple yet to enter plea on drug charges

By Jeannie Penehuro/

Apia, SAMOA – 31 March 2026: Afualo Daryl Mapu and his wife Anasaini Mapu are yet to enter pleas on drug related charges and also on possession of unlicensed firearms.

Both were arrested from a police raid recently and appeared in court yesterday.

Afualo is a former Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) with the Office of the Electoral Commissioner and Anasaini works as a Librarian at the National University of Samoa.

Defence counsel Quentin Sauaga applied for bail for the defendants however, the court granted Anasaini bail while Afualo returned under police custody to Tanumalala.

Anasina is to surrender all travel documents and to sign at the Faleata Police Outpost every Wednesday before 4.00pm.

The court has adjourned the matter to next week without plea for the police to finalise their charges.

Marie Fanueli granted bail
Also arrested on the same police raid as Afualo and Anasina was Marie Fanueli, also a former Government official on the charges relating to unlicensed firearms.

Prosecution opposed bail for Fanueli but her lawyer Su’a Leone Su’a successfully argued for her client.

Presiding Justice Loau Donald Kerslake questioned prosecution’s grounds for opposing bail when they did not oppose bail for Anasini who is charged with a serious charge of narcotics.

Marie was then granted bail on condition that she sign at the Faleata Police Outpost daily giving police a chance to complete their investigation and finalise the charges.

She will appear again with Afualo and Anasina on the next mention date.