1 May 2009

Lawyer found guilty in Samoa for obstructing police

3:21 pm on 1 May 2009

A New Zealand-based Samoan lawyer, Iuni Sapolu, has been found guilty in the District Court in Samoa of one count of willfully obstructing a police sergeant who led a police raid on the defendant's family property last year where small cannabis plants were found.

The presiding judge, Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai, has also found the woman lawyer guilty of one count of insulting and abusive words against a village mayor or Pulenuu of Vaiala village.

Sapolu was arrested and charged during the police raid on her family's property last September after she unsuccessfully tried to stop the police raid.

One of the charges against her was dismissed because the court was not satisfied with the police evidence.

Iuni Sapolu says she will instruct her lawyer to appeal the verdict.

The court is set to pass sentence tomorrow.