By Staff Writer
The Appeals Court has dismissed the appeal by the Speaker, Papali’i Taeu Masepa’u to suspend from Parliament the former Prime Minister and leader for the opposition Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele and party General Secretary MP Lealailepule RImoni Aiafi.
The Appeals Court’s 3-member presiding panel of Justices Blanchard, Young and Nelson handed down the 32 page ruling today.
Other than to throw out the appeal by Speaker Papali’i, the Appeals Court allowed the cross-appeal by the defendants when it voided the decision of the Assembly on 18 October 2022, to suspend them from the Assembly as having no basis in law.
Tuilaepa and Lealailepule are also entitled to be paid their Parliamentary salaries and allowances relating to the period or periods of their suspension and must be paid forthwith.
Speaker Papali’i is to pay the defendants total court costs of $15,000 for hearings in both the Appeals and Supreme Courts.
Court hearing on the matter was held on 23 November 2023 with further submissions made on the 11 and 23 of December 2023 and 23 January 2024.