12 Feb 2019

Man who threw pig’s head at Samoa PM escapes punishment

4:45 pm on 12 February 2019

The council of chiefs, or matai from Manono-tai village in Samoa will not punish a man who threw a pig's head at the prime minister in Australia last year.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was unharmed when meat and eggs were thrown in his direction while he visited a church in Brisbane.

Newsline Samoa reported the man, Tala Pauga, who lives in Brisbane was summoned to attend a council meeting.

The decision not to punish him was reportedly due to a lack of evidence and supported by the MP for the village's electorate.

Mr Pauga told Newsline his action was a protest aganist corruption in the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.

In November, it was reported a 41-year-old man was charged with public nuisance over the incident but Mr Pauga told the Samoa Observer that all charges against him had been dropped.