29 Sep 2008

Auckland lawyer arrested in Samoa claims dispute over family land behind action

6:05 am on 29 September 2008

An Auckland lawyer has been arrested in Samoa for what she says is a set-up by a village mayor wanting her family's land.

Iuni Sapolu is facing charges of obstruction and swearing at police and a village mayor, after she ordered a group of officers off her family property last Wednesday.

She says the police raided her family's property and allegedly found majrijuana plants, then kept her in jail overnight.

Iuni Sapolu says the mayor insists her family land is customary land that belongs to the village and has attempted to set her family up by planting evidence on her property.

Her passport has been seized and she is due to appear in court on Wednesday.