Police ask for time to finalise charges against former Prime Minister

Apia, SAMOA – 25 March 2026: The Prosecutor representing the police in a defamation case against former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has asked for a two-week adjournment so they could finalise the charges.

The matter was first mentioned yesterday at the District Court, but the defendant did not appear.

Defence counsel Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio presented a medical certificate and Judge Papalii Rosella Papalii accepted it and asked counsel that the defendant must appear on the 7 April when the matter is recalled.

Tuilaepa is facing defamation allegations on a complaint by the Minister of Education and a former CEO of the Ministry of Health, Aiono Alec Ekeroma.