27 Nov 2015

Samoa Associate Minister charged with forgery

3:09 pm on 27 November 2015
Associate Minister, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, and lawyer Leulua'ialii Olinda Woodroffe

Associate Minister, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, and lawyer Leulua'ialii Olinda Woodroffe Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

The police in Samoa have charged an Associate Minister for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, with one count of forgery and one of falsifying documents.

Peseta was arrested and charged last Friday but police have refused to release any information on the case.

The police say the case is set for mention in the Supreme Court on the 14th of December.

But the associate minister's lawyer Leulua'ialii Olinda Woodroffe says her client denies the charges.

Leulua'ialii says she has raised concerns on the way the police and the Attorney General carried out the investigations.

She is also worried the charges have caused damage to the MP, his family and the constituency he represents.

She says the police and the Attorney General have a lack of evidence on which the charges are based.

Leulua'ialii is demanding remedy from the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police or she will take legal action.