Sāmoa district court separates Tuilaepa defamation case and orders public silence

​Sāmoa’s district court has split criminal defamation proceedings against opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi into two separate trials and ordered him not to publicly comment on the case while it is before the court.

The order means Tuilaepa must not discuss the matter on social media or any public platform until the proceedings are complete.

In a livestream on Thursday, Tuilaepa said he would comply with the court’s decision.

According to local media reports, District Court Judge Talasa Atoa-Saaga issued the restriction after an application from prosecutor Maiavatele Timothy Fesili during a hearing on Tuesday.

Tuilaepa faces four charges linked to alleged defamatory and insulting comments. Three complaints were filed by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt and one by Education Minister Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma.

The complaint filed by Aiono relates to alleged breaches of Section 117A of the Crimes Act 2013, Sāmoa’s criminal defamation law.

The complaints against Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi by Education Minister Aiono Alec Ekeroma and Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt have been separated in to separate trials. Photo/Government of Sāmoa.

The Prime Minister’s complaints include alleged breaches of Sections 219, 145, and 117A of the same Act. These relate to alleged harassment using electronic communications and threatening or insulting words or behaviour towards a member of Parliament or a public officer.

Local media report prosecutors successfully applied to separate the matter into two trials. The Aiono complaint will be heard separately from the case involving Laaulialemalietoa.

The prosecution told the court that Aiono’s allegations relate to statements said to have been made in 2025, while the Prime Minister’s complaints relate to remarks dating back to 2023, according to Talamua Media.

On 21 January, Education Minister, Aiono Alec Ekeroma posted on his social media page about the complaint he lodged against the opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in November 2025. Photo/Facebook

Tuilaepa’s defence counsel, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio, told PMN News that the former prime minister is fighting the charges.

“Our client has pleaded not guilty to all the charges; that’s all we can say as it is now before the court,” he said.

Local media reports that the defence opposed both the application to separate the trials and the request to restrict public comment.

Judge Atoa-Saaga ruled the court had a duty to prevent interference with proceedings and ordered that Tuilaepa not comment publicly “on any platform” until the case is resolved.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Atoa-Saaga said she would step aside from matters involving Laaulialemalietoa, while continuing to preside over the separate Aiono complaint.

The decision comes amid a growing number of high-profile defamation disputes involving senior political figures in Sāmoa.

Watch (Sāmoan) Tuilaepa's press conference on 7 May below.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa is currently facing a separate civil defamation case filed by former prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who is seeking damages over allegations linking her to the death of academic Dr Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard.

Earlier this year, Judge Atoa-Saaga also stepped aside from any future cases involving the Prime Minister after presiding over a conspiracy trial linked to the 2021 hit-and-run death of Tuuau Maletino, in which Laaulialemalietoa was acquitted.

In her written ruling released in April, the judge said prior findings in that case meant she would not hear further related matters involving the prime minister.

The Tuilaepa case has been adjourned until 23 June for a pre-trial conference, where hearing dates for the separate trials are expected to be set.