10 May 2002

Jailed Samoan minister moved to hospital

3:11 pm on 10 May 2002

The former Samoa cabinet minister and convicted murderer Leafa Vitale has been admitted to hospital suffering from gout.

A police officer has been deployed to stand guard outside Leafa's ward.

Since being jailed for life in 2000 for plotting the murder of the government minister, Luagalau Levaula Kamu, Leafa has been admitted to hospital several times.

Leafa's oldest son, Alatise, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to shooting Luagalau.

Luagalau had replaced Leafa as the minister of public works.