19 Nov 2009

Samoa MP appears in court for charge of threatening to kill

10:09 am on 19 November 2009

An MP of the ruling HRPP party in Samoa, who is facing one count of threatening to kill, appeared in court yesterday.

Solamalemalo Keneti Sio is alleged to have been involved in an attempt to kill a man of Faleula village as a result of a Lands and Titles court decision on a matai title dispute.

Sio, who has yet to enter a plea, had his case adjourned to next month as police have yet to complete their investigations and finalise charges against the MP.

The prosecution asked the court to advise the defendant to refrain from contacting witnesses and anyone involved in the case, but the MP's defense counsel said it has not been given a list of police witnesses.

Meanwhile, the presiding judge did not support a prosecution application for bail against Sio, because he trusted that the MP would not runaway from the judiciary if he left the country for official government duties or personal trips.