2019 Samoa assassination plot

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Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi in 2018

The 2019 Samoa assassination plot was an alleged attempt to assassinate Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. The plot was revealed to the public when two men were detained for questioning by Samoan police on 13 August 2019.[1] One person was subsequently convicted of conspiracy to murder.[2] Legal proceedings are still ongoing against two other suspects, and a fourth man is currently awaiting extradition from Australia.

Arrests[]

On 16 August 2019 police announced they had arrested three people on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.[3] The arrests were made after a tipoff from the village council of Lauli'i.[4] After an initial hearing on 26 August,[5] two of the suspects - blogger Malele Atofu Paulo and teacher Lema'i Faioso Sione - appeared in court on 3 September and pleaded not guilty.[6] On 4 September Samoan police announced they were attempting to extradite a fourth man, Talalelei Pauga, from Australia.[7]

On 9 September 2019, Leiloa, Paulo and Sione appeared in court together for the first time. Paulo and Sione entered a not-guilty plea, while Leiloa pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to commit murder.[8] All the accused were remanded in custody. On 28 February 2020 Paulo and Sione were granted bail.[9] Security around Tuilaepa was increased as a result.[10] On 23 July 2020, the Supreme Court refused permission for Sione and Paulo to return to Australia. Both are Australian residents.[11]

Change and re-change of plea of Taualai Leiloa[]

However due to be sentenced on 30 September, his sentencing was postponed until 14 October 2019. When Taualai Leiloa appeared before the Court to be sentenced, the prosecution asked the judge that Leiloa have a lawyer to represent him. The judge agreed due to the seriousness of the charges against him. However, Leiloa alleged he couldn't afford a lawyer, for which his sentence was postponed until 1 November while they seek legal counsel for him.[12][13]

On 1 November 2019, when he was due to be sentenced, Leiloa asked the judge to change his plea from guilty to not-guilty, after being advised by his lawyer.[14] On 23 December 2020 Leiloa was sentenced to five years imprisonment.[2]

Talalelei Pauga extradition proceedings[]

On 20 August 2020 Australian Federal Police officer Natalie Marks arrested Brisbane man Talalelei Pauga for extradition to Samoa.[15] He was remanded at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre pending assessment of eligibility for extradition.[16] A subsequent challenge before the Federal Court of Australia saw the Australian Federal Police ordered to investigate Pauga's arrest[17] and why he was detained without access to a lawyer for a month.[18] Proceedings are underway in the Federal Court of Australia before the Honourable Justice Colvin seeking to quash the remands made by the Brisbane Magistrates Court.[19] On 16 September 2021, Faatasi Puleiata Veataui withdrew the Samoan warrant for the arrest of Mr Pauga which he had previously issued on 25 February 2020. Samoa now finds itself in the position of having made a request to Australia for the extradition of Mr Pauga when there is no warrant for his arrest in Samoa. Samoa has nevertheless opposed granting bail to Mr Pauga. On 1 October 2021 in a hearing before Justice Colvin, Samoa Queens Counsel for Samoa unsuccessfully sought to prevent an adjournment of bail proceedings which Mr Pauga sought in order to bring further evidence about conditions within the Queensland prison system.

References[]

  1. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 August 2019). "Plot to assassinate the P.M. uncovered". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Samoa PM plotter jailed". RNZ. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Three men charged in connection with plot to assassinate Samoa PM" (RNZ). 16 August 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Village council alerted police to alleged plot to assasinate [sic] Samoa PM". RNZ. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Two appear in Samoa court over PM assassination allegations". RNZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Samoan assassination plot accused plead not guilty". RNZ. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Samoa assassination plot thickens with extradition application". RNZ. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Man pleads guilty to conspiring to assassinate Samoa PM". RNZ. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Samoa PM assassination plot accused granted bail". RNZ. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Security tightened around Samoan PM". RNZ. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Samoa assassination plot accused denied Australian return". RNZ. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. ^ "CONFESSED MURDER CONSPIRATOR CANNOT AFFORD LAWYER". NewsLineSamoa. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Assassinate Samoa PM Directed to Seek Legal Counsel". SamoaGlobalNews. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Man who admitted conspiracy to kill Samoan PM to change plea". RNZ. November 2019.
  15. ^ "Australia arrests man for conspiracy to assassinate Samoa PM". RNZ. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. ^ Lucy Stone (22 September 2020). "Brisbane man faces extradition over alleged plot to kill Samoan PM". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. ^ "File details - applications for file".
  18. ^ Evan Wasuka (9 August 2021). "Australian police ordered to investigate arrest of man wanted in Samoan assassination plot". ABC. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. ^ "File details - applications for file".
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