Samoa’s deputy PM found guilty

The deputy Prime Minister of Samoa has been found guilty of obstructing police while they tried to carry out a blood-alcohol test last year.

Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo, has consistently denied the charge relating to an incident last October.

The associate minister, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, was also found guilty of obstructing the police, and failing to comply with the use of a breathalyzer device.

The district court judge, Vaepule Alo Vaemoa Va’ai, delivered his verdict yesterday in a packed court room attended by village matais and supporters of the two defendants.

Muagututagata was initially pulled over by police for making an illegal u-turn on part of the main beach road in Apia.

Fonotoe told supporters outside the court that the verdict was the answer from God, and he thanked several village matais from his constituency for maintaining trust in him as their representative in parliament.

The court has set Friday, April 25, for sentencing.