19 Oct 2006

Samoa broadcasting chief says claims she attacked a journalist are baseless.

7:21 pm on 19 October 2006

The CEO of Samoa's Broadcasting Corporation, Galumalemana Faiesea Matafeo, says reports that she attacked a journalist are part of a campaign to tarnish her reputation and defame her family.

Galumalemana is alleged to have attacked the journalist outside the district court house while he was taking a photo of her son who is facing two charges of negligent driving causing death and causing injuries.

Galumalemana says that reports that the journalist suffered minor injuries must be false since she did not touch him.

"The truth is I did shoo someone away but that is hardly attacking in my own humble terms. I had my handbag in the same hand by which I waved him off but the bag didn't even reach him and there about twenty other people, police officers and a couple of lawyers who were outside the courthouse and they can bear witness to the truth and I believe that it's nothing but a calculating move to destroy me and my family, drag us in the mud and it's probably a golden opportunity for them to attack us."

The CEO of Samoa's Broadcasting Corporation, Galumalemana Faiesea Matafeo.