22 Jul 2021

Samoa's caretaker PM lashes out at young female lawyers

3:23 pm on 22 July 2021

Samoa's caretaker prime minister has lashed out at young female lawyers in the country calling them "stupid, cheeky and disrespectful."

Speaking during his weekly programme on TV3, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi described the lawyers as childish, critised their dress code in court and lack of respect for the country's head of state.

The Samoa Observer reports Tuilaepa's comments come after the Samoa Law Society's submission to an Appeal Court hearing opposing his position that only the head of state had the power to convene parliament.

Tuilaepa said they needed to go back and read the constitution more carefully and they should show more respect for the president.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Photo: Samoa govt

He urged Samoa's more senior lawyers to rein in the behaviour of their younger counterparts.

Meanwhile in the latest electoral petition both the respondent and petitioner were cleared of accusations of treating and bribery.

The HRPP's Lauofo Pierre Lauofo had won the Anoama No 2 seat in the April 9th election.

FAST's Toomata Norah Leota, who came second had accused him of treating and he counter petitioned.

The Supreme Court ruled neither had committed these offence, but it separately ruled that Toomata had been guilty of illegal practice during a FAST Party roadshow, when several village matai were given envelopes containing cash.

With just a handful of the petitions to be sorted the MP numbers remain at FAST 26 and HRPP 17