Falealili 1 contempt case adjourned again

By Jeannie Penehuro/

Apia, SAMOA – 18 May 2026: The Falealili 1 contempt of court hearing scheduled to start today has been adjourned again due to counsels’ unavailability.

The contempt of court case is against 53 defendants who failed to turn up as witnesses for the Falealili 1 electoral petition hearing last year.

In court today, counsel Fetu Laga’aia appeared on instructions of Fuimaono Sarona Ponifasio who is representing 25 defendants.

Fuimaono is currently overseas and will only be available next week.

Prosecution informed the court there are 5 more defendants added to Fuimaono’s list of clients.

The court has given another chance to other defendants to engage counsels by Wednesday this week, and the hearing is rescheduled to Tuesday next week.

The contempt of court stemmed from the election petition lodged by Tuiloma Laniselota Lameko against current Falealili 1 Member of Parliament (MP).

The defendants were all witnesses for both parties; however, only one appeared on the day of the hearing.

Summons were issued followed by warrants of arrests but still police were unable to locate them until recently, and all 53 are now facing contempt of court charges.