3 defendants suspected to be linked to a Vietnam murder deny charges

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 24 June 2026: Two men and a woman facing 30 charges of money laundering and bribery first appeared in the District Court yesterday morning.

The men are Fred Oliva Junior Papalii and James Tuisavailuu Atua face 30 charges of money laundering and these will be mentioned in the Supreme Court next week.

The charges are linked to the Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) notice on freezing the defendants accounts on the suspicion that they are linked to the murder of a Samoan man in Vietnam where two young Samoan men are in Vietnam police custody accused of the murder.

The woman is Nakitah Anne Chalres, James’ wife, who is facing one count of bribery on a corruption act.

All have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the hearing is scheduled for the week commencing from 14 to 18 September 2026.

Bail application denied
In court today, defence counsels Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio and Fuimaono Sefo Ainuu applied for bail for Fred and James.

However, presiding Judge Papalii Alalatoa Rosela Papalii informed counsels that the District Court has no jurisdiction to rule on bail because a remanded order for both defendants have already been filed in the Supreme Court.

The defendants have a chance to apply for bail at the Supreme Court and if it is granted, then bail is automatically granted at the District Court.

“But I will not entertain bail at this time,” Judge Papalii said.

Nakitah however is remanded on bail and is to surrender all travel documents and to sign in at the Afega Police Outpost every Friday.

The third accused, Nakitah Anne Chalres outside court.

Transfer of files to the Supreme Court
The Prosecution wanted the money laundering and other charges to be heard together in the Supreme Court.

However, Judge Papalii wanted to understand the relevance of having all charges heard together when the charges stemmed from separate incidents.

Judge Papalii then put to the Prosecution that the money laundering charges only surfaced after the CBS notice which linked the money to the Vietnam incident.

Prosecution said “yes.”

Judge Papalii continued, “the bribery, misleading and corruption charges stemmed from an incident at the Faleolo International Airport where the defendants were removed from the aircraft.”

Prosecution again said “yes.”

Judge Papalii then ruled that they are separate incidents and that the money laundering charges will be transferred to the Supreme Court and the other charges will be dealt with in the District Court.

Police ordered to observe rights of defendants
Fuimaono informed the Court that on 13 June, his client was brought to the police station in Apia for questioning without informing counsel.

He said his clients’ constitutional rights were breached and he asked the court for an order to ensure that police acknowledge them.

Judge Papalii made the order for police and asked Prosecution to inform Madam Attorney General of the order to ensure that the defendants rights are noted.

Attorney General Office to disclose documents to defence
An order has also been made to the Office of the Attorney General to disclose all documents relevant to the case to defence counsels.

They have until Friday 3^rd July to comply with the order.

Should officials who accept bribery be charged?
On the charge of bribery against Nakitah, Faimalomatumua asked the court whether the police official who allegedly accepted a bribe from his client is charged.

He said that there is a provision in the Police Crimes Act that any official accepting bribes should be charged, and he asked the court if that official can be charged; and if so, can her case be called together with his client’s case.

He believes the official is the key witness on the bribery charge against Nakitah.

Judge Papalii said that that was not the prosecution’s case but rather, bribery was offered and was not accepted hence the nature of the charge, bribery with corruption act.

Faimalomatumua countered that the charges were filed 6 days later which indicates that the money could have been accepted.

Judge Papalii said Faimalomatumua had raised a crucial matter, and it is best to leave it for the trial where he can cross-examine the official.

Family diversion outside court
When the matter was called in the morning, several members of the defendant James family wore hijab scarfs to divert the media from taking Nakitah’s photo.

Nakitah wore a long black dress and hijab scarf and sunglasses covering her face from being photographed.

Some of her relatives also covered their faces with scarves then walked directly to the courtroom while Nakitah followed from a distance.

When the matter was recalled in the afternoon, some of the defendants’ family threw verbal abuse at the media.

The money laundering charges will be mentioned on Monday while the hearing for the money laundering charges is scheduled for September.