18 Jan 2011

Samoa MP denies theft and fraud charges

4:14 pm on 18 January 2011

An MP in Samoa and one of the Tautua Samoa candidates in the election in March, Toluono Feti Toluono, has denied 15 charges, including theft and fraud relating to the unlawful transfer of the ownership of freehold land.

The Palauli constituency MP has entered a not guilty plea through his lawyer.

Toluono has been ordered by the chief justice, Patu Falefatu Sapolu, to surrender his travel documents and report to the police criminal investigation branch twice a week before his trial now set for May.

The Supreme Court already ruled in a civil case last year that the land involved was unlawfully purchased for Toluono by a woman the court had heard was having an affair with the MP.

The woman, Maselina Stowers, is also facing charges of false pretence and fraud relating to the same matter.

She has entered a guilty plea and will be sentenced on January 31st.