8 Jan 2015

Charged Samoa editor suspended

10:07 am on 8 January 2015

The Samoa government newspaper editor, Tupuola Terry Tavita, is reported to have been suspended effective this week to await the outcome of a police investigation and his court case.

A reliable government source says the Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, has called a meeting with the staff of the Savali newspaper and the press secretariat, in which he addressed the matter and made known his decision to suspend the editor.

The editor is charged with one count of attempting to rape a journalism student during a trip to the village of A'ufaga on Aleipata in December to report on a cultural event.

The prime minister has assigned senior staff to take charge while Tupuola Terry Tavita is suspended.

He is due to appear in court on January 19th.

Tupuola Terry Tavita

Tupuola Terry Tavita Photo: RNZI