28 Apr 2014

Samoa ministers to be sentenced in two weeks

3:43 pm on 28 April 2014

A judge in Samoa has adjourned the sentencing of two government ministers until May the 13th.

The deputy prime minister Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, and associate minister Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, were both found guilty of obstructing police during an incident in Apia in October last year.

The Samoa Observer reports the District Court Judge Vaepule Alo Vaemoa Va'ai heard submissions on Friday from lawyers representing the men.

Fonotoe's counsel, Donald Kerslake, asked the court to only impose monetary fines, citing his client's clean record and standing in the community.

The lawyer for Muagututagata, Patrick Fepuleai, included in his submissions that his client had suffered shame through media reports, and had been present in court over the two-day hearing.

While adjourning the sentencing, Judge Vaepule told the lawyers their clients should have behaved in accordance with their high office.