15 Dec 2011

Samoa TV3 ordered to pay damages in defamation suit

5:31 am on 15 December 2011

An election candidate in Samoa, Tuala Joe Ponifasio, has won a lawsuit against a privately owned television station in Apia.

Tuala Joe Ponifasio, who was running for the Tautua Samoa party, sued for damages over a news item broadcast by TV3 before the general election in March this year.

The story included an allegation of misappropriation.

TV3's manager Atanoa Herbert Crichton and the reporter Tutuila Farao have been ordered to pay a compensation of 60 thousand US dollars.

Tuala Joe Ponifasio lost the seat to Sala Fata Pinata, who was re-appointed as the minister of Police and Prisons.