A motion to quash two contempt of court charges against the leader of the Samoa Democratic United party, Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai, has been filed in court by his lawyer Leulua'ialii Tasi Malifa.
The lawyer says the motion is based on grounds that the criminal charges are unconstitutional because they violate his client's rights to free speech and freedom of expression.
According to the lawyer, the attorney general has no authority to lay the charges because the SDUP leader had expressed his opinion in a local newspaper as a Member of Parliament on issues of public interest.
The hearing of the matter is being delayed while the Ministry of Justice is looking for an overseas judge to preside on the case.
