10 Apr 2018

Samoa PM denies offering reward for blogger ID

1:43 pm on 10 April 2018

Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has denied he offering a million dollar reward for information leading to the identification of controversial internet blogger O Le Palemia.

Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ / Sela Jane Aholelei

O Le Palemia has launched numerous scathing online attacks and allegations of corruption against the government of Tuila'epa.

In a statement Tuila'epa said there was no reward for the identification of the blogger and he would never authorise such a reward.

However, the prime minister did confirm that the attorney general's office had been tasked with preparing the legal process to ensure ghost writers are brought to trial to answer any defamatory allegations which blatantly violated the constitutional rights of members of public.

Tuila'epa said they must answer to their slander, personal vendetta and unsubstantiated malice posted freely without consequences virally.

He said he publicly condemned the misuse of social media which defeats the purpose behind the government's investment to improve the country's ICT capacity for the benefit of the people.

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