Court again denies Samuelu Sua’s application for bail

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 8 May 2026: The District Court Senior Judge, Talasa Atoa Saaga has again denied Samuelu Su’a’s request for bail and he will remain in custody for his sentencing on 26 May.

Sam took the floor after his counsel Kathryn Dalziel presented her submission via video link from Auckland on her application to discharge her client without conviction.

Sam directly asked Judge Saaga if he was to remain in custody until sentence, then applied for bail.

His application was relayed to Dalziel who said that the decision or sentence will be delivered on 26 May and the process of filing another application for bail will drag the matter and may delay the sentence.

Prosecutor Taimalelagi Leinafo Strickland strongly opposed on the grounds that Sam is a flight risk.

Both Dalziel and Strickland left the decision to the discretion of the Court.

Judge Saaga agreed with both counsels that if the application is accepted, it means another delay while counsels prepare more submissions to hear the application.

“In my respectful view, which is the same as counsels, it is best to await the sentence decision rather than delaying proceedings by hearing bail application before sentence,” she said.

She did not entertain the idea but informed Sam that his time in custody shall be deducted from the sentence.

The charges
Sam together with his wife Sivai Kepi and Lisemarie Schmidt will all be sentenced together on the charges of defamation and perverting the course of justice.

Sam is guilty of 8 charges, Sivai of two charges and Lisemarie on one charge and their counsel’s submission for a discharge without conviction have all been submitted.

They were jointly charged with Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, Police Inspector Li’o Faataumalama Auava and former Member of Parliament Fepuleai Faimata Sua who have been acquitted.