The Samoa Democratic United Party leader, Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai, has been discharged without a conviction after he was found guilty on contempt charges in the Supreme Court.
The presiding judge, Murray Kellam, found the senior opposition MP guilty of contempt when a letter Asiata wrote was published in the Samoa Observer newspaper two year ago.
The letter was critical of the Chief Justice, Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu.
According to court documents, the letter created a risk of public confidence in the court and the judicial system being undermined.
It was also deemed that the letter could lower the authority of the court and interfere with the course of justice.
The SDUP leader was charged with two counts of contempt of court but one was dismissed because police cannot prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to deliver a decision tomorrow on strike out motions by the Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, on separate legal actions brought by Asiata against the Government and the former and the current Speakers of Parliament, on a series of constitutional matters.
