The police in Samoa have confirmed that the death last week of the former ruling HRPP party MP, Leva'a Sauaso, was self-inflicted.
The assistant police commissioner, Leaupepe Fatu Pula, says the 69-year-old's body is at the national hospital morgue awaiting burial preparations and a funeral service.
Leva'a Sauaso represented the constituency of Aiga ile Tai in Parliament from 2001 to 2006.
The former MP was banished from his village of Apolima more than five years ago.
