Samoa: MPs await sentencing

Two senior Samoa politicians are now waiting for sentencing after being found guilty of charges laid against them in a high profile case surrounding a drink-drive breathalyzer test incident in Apia last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo and Associate Minister Muagututagata Peter Ah Him have both been found guilty by the District Court this week.

Muagututagata was found guilty of a minor charge of making an unlawful U-turn in a forbidden area and the more serious one of failing to comply with police officers in performing a breathalyzer test.

Fonotoe was found guilty of obstructing police in carrying out their duties.

Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai has reserved giving the reasons for his decision until the defendants appear for sentencing on April 25.

Both members of parliament pleaded not guilty to the charges laid by the police.

The much publicised incident which led to the charges happened around 10pm on the night of October 8, 2013.

Muagututagata was stopped by a patrol police vehicle after making the U-turn and police tried unsuccessfully three times to breath test him. He claimed the breathalyzer equipment was unhygienic.

Muagututagata alleged the police refused to change the mouthpiece for the breathalyzer machine.

He said that the police actions were “irresponsible, dangerous and risky in spreading diseases.”

He also claimed the officer doing the test was “very arrogant, rude and embarrassing for me as a member of parliament.”

The police said he did not take the test properly. It was during his fourth attempt to blow into the breathalyzer that Fonotoe arrived at the scene.

The deputy prime minister was driving home from a social function and stopped his car alongside the police as they attempted to obtain a successful; breath test from Muagututagata.

According to police evidence before the court, Fonotoe interfered and told Muagututgata to drive off before the breath testing could be completed.

Ignoring the police officers Muagututagata did drive off followed by Fonotoe.

Fonotoe denied urging his colleague to drive away from the scene.