Defence counsel Fuimaono Sefo Ainuu with Opposition MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi outside the District Courtroom where a Departure Prohibition Order for the Faleata MP was thrown out yesterday.
By Staff Writer
Opposition MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is flying out to New Zealand tomorrow to spend time with his children, after a failed attempt by the Government FAST Party to stop him.
A Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) brought by FAST to keep him in Samoa was thrown out in a District Court ruling yesterday, Tuesday 4 April 2023.
MP Lealailepule is a witness in an election counter petition by the new FAST party candidate, to defend against alleged illegal voter activities to win the recent Vaimauga 3 by-election.
Government resorted to the DPO to ensure the outspoken opposition MP is present while the election petition hearing is underway.
‘The whole DPO thing was a waste of time and abuse of process,” Lealailepule reacted after the court ruled in his favour.
“It’s not as if I am not coming back, I live in Samoa and all my assets are here, besides I also have to be here on the 24th of this month for the hearing of a matter I filed in court.”
He added that it is a legally accepted practice to give live testimony electronically from New Zealand which he was prepared for as well while there.
The Faleata MP has been the target of Government acrimony alongside the former PM and opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, in the simmering turmoil of the political fallout from the 2021 general election.
Both are each serving 2-year suspensions from attending Parliament after an earlier one where they served 6 months.
The FAST dominated Parliament suspended the pair in the first instance for an indefinite period that was cut short by a court ruling that declared it illegal.
The failed DPO move adds to continuing political hostilities
Lealailepule is now set to travel out before the end of the week with his wife Sharon to spend family time with their children in New Zealand.
The couple is anxious to be with their grandson who is recovering from treatment for a serious health condition after being med-evac from Samoa a few months ago.
