By Staff Writer
Human rights are declared the bigger winner in a not guilty court ruling on defamatory comments alleged against a Samoan church preacher based in Australia.
District Court Judge Leota Ray Schuster cleared Tiumalumatua Maifea Fetu last week of making insulting comments allegedly against the FAST Government reportedly during a sermon he gave in church.
The former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is leading the resounding applause for Judge Leota’s ruling.
Police arrested Tiumalumatua when he arrived in Samoa last July to attend his son’s ordination as a new church minister of the Methodist Church,
Defense arguments by legal counsels Lemisio and Ainuu that their client had no case to answer was upheld by Judge Leota when the charges were dismissed for lack of evidence.
“His Honour showed integrity and true independence of the court in judgement of the preacher and I take my hot off to Judge Leota,” Tuilaepa acknowledged in appreciation of the just and fairness of the ruling.
Judge Leota is the younger brother of the Minister of Police Lefau Harry Schuster.
Tuilaepa,however, was left fully assured that family and political ties did not have any influence on the verdict.
“The Tiumalumatua ruling reflects the decision of the court to uphold human rights that extends equally to members of the media as well as servants of the Lord,” Tuilaepa added.
“It is also a win for the constitutional rights of expression for everyone.’
He cautioned, however, that the court charges have set a precedent to similar legal threats to human rights in the future for the clergy, media and others.
The Australian based preacher and his wife were finally able to return home to Sydney after their legally enforced stay in Samoa of more than two months.