By Renate Rivers

The second week of court proceedings in the Palauli-le-Falefa petition case is well underway, with Faumuina Tiatia Liuga taking the stand yesterday to answer to allegations of bribery brought against him by Le Tagaloa Pita.

Answering questions from Le Tagaloa’s lawyer – Leota Ray Schuster –regarding a sizable donation given to the Sili Women’s Committee in May of last year, Faumuina denied any wrong-doing.

Faumuina, and members of the Women in Business (WIBDI) organisation had visited the village of Sili on May 13^th 2010 to present a seminar on organic farming practices as well as coconut oil production to the Women’s Committee. 

Faumuina maintains that the money belonged to WIBDI and he was simply handing it over to the committee on their behalf, to help them with their oil oven.

Mrs Lusia Faaofanuu had earlier testified that Faumuina handed the money over to the Committee and said it was a gift for them to buy some sugar.  She said that the Committee declined the offer at first, but Faumuina insisted and said that he knew they would not vote for him, so they should take the money to buy some sugar.

Her testimony was scrutinized by Mr Darryl Clarke – Faumuina’s second legal counsel – and Chief Justice Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu.  After a speight of questions attempting to clarify exactly what she had heard, she admitted that she was hard-of-hearing and had possibly missed what Faumuina had said to the Women’s Committee.  It was also established that the date of the meeting with Faumuina, WIBDI and the Women’s Committee was actually in May of 2010, and not September 2010 as she had originally claimed.

Leota Ray queried Faumuina’s decision to hand the money over to the Committee, and his purpose for being there on the day.

“As I am the Member of Parliament for Palauli le Falefa, I am the right person to receive, disburse or hand over any money or gifts from the Government, Companies, Organisations and so on. 

“I never said that the money was for the Committee to buy some sugar.  Our families and villages of the constituency do not need sugar – I would not belittle them in that way by saying such a thing.�?

Leota continued to quiz him on bribery allegations, this time from Fiu Tinoifili who claimed Faumuina gave him $200 and told him it was for food; and also to see that Fiu’s family vote for him in the elections. 

Said Faumuina,

“Yes I gave him the $200, but it was not for food.  It was simply a kind gesture from one matai to another.  However, we did not talk about the elections.. Fiu Tinoifili himself admitted that we did not talk about the elections.�?

In what appears to be a contradiction of Faumuina’s testimony that no discussion took place about elections, one of his witnesses, Leota Pepe Pa’i testified that Fiu Tinoifili told Faumuina that he himself would be voting for Le Tagaloa Pita, but his family would vote for the incumbent Member of Parliament. 

Leota Pepe claims that Faumuina did not instigate the conversation about elections at all, but it was Fiu Tinoifili himself who said the words.

Leota Pepe was then queried by Leota Ray about whether his testimony had in fact been tainted by his presence in the court during Le Tagaloa’s time on the stand.

“Were you present in court on the first day of court proceedings?  During the time of Le Tagaloa was giving evidence on the stand?�?
“Yes,�? Leota  Pepe replied.

“Did you not understand that witnesses are not allowed inside the courtroom until it is time for their testimony?,�? asked Leota Ray.

“No I did not know this,�? he admitted.

Court hearings also turned to the issue of registering Ao titles in order to run in the elections.   Prompted by Le Tagaloa’s earlier testimony that as he holds the Ao title of Le Tagaloa he does not have to undertake the requisite ‘monotaga’ or village service as required for eligibility as a candidate; the Chief Justice asked Faumuina what his thoughts were about this.

“Ao are not matai titles per se, therefore they do not have to do the monotaga.  They are more honorary titles.  So, if you register an Ao title at the Lands and Titles Court, in order run as a candidate, then you should do your monotaga like any other matai,�? opined Faumuina.

Hearings continue today at the Supreme Court with more witnesses expected to give evidence in support of the counter-petition and against the petition allegations.

Share This

About the author

Renate Rivers

Related Posts

Family of three to be investigated for giving false court testimony

Tavui Seilasa Grey and daughters Katerina and Iorina Grey contemplate their fates in court yesterday. By Renate Rivers In a sensational turn of events at the Supreme Court yesterday, three members of the same family...

Satupaitea petition wraps, ruling delivered next week

Asiata Wairaki confers with lawyer Tima Leavai By Renate Rivers Final submissions were heard yesterday in the election petition case for the territorial constituency of Satupaitea. A petition alleging bribery...

First-term Cabinet Minister settles differences out of court

By Renate Rivers One of the two charges of bribery lodged against the current Minister of Police and Prisons has been withdrawn.  Sala Fata Pinati overcame one hurdle in the District Court yesterday when the charge...