Plot to Assassinate Tuilaepa Uncovered
Aman is under investigation for allegedly plotting to assassinate Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
Details of the plot are shrouded in secrecy, but the investigation was confirmed by Police Commissioner, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil, when contacted by the Samoa Observer.
He declined to give further details except to say that the investigation is ongoing.
Suspects detained
But the newspaper understands that two people have been detained by Police for questioning in connection to the ongoing investigation.
It remained unclear whether the two remained in custody and what their role in the alleged plot was.
The man suspected of masterminding the alleged plot has also been investigated by the village in which he resides. The man is married to a woman from Laulii where he currently resides.
The village mayor, Faalogo Sasauli Moli, said a meeting was called on Monday when the council was alerted about the matter. Faalogo was reluctant to comment, but confirmed that the village had taken precautionary actions and is co-operating with Police investigation.
He added that the allegation was serious and brought shame to the village.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi is currently in Funafuti, Tuvalu, attending the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit.
History
Samoa’s only political assassination was in 1999 where former Cabinet Minister, the late Luagalau Levaula Kamu, was shot during the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Protection Party at St Joseph’s College hall, Alafua.
Tuilaepa revealed in the launching of his memoir, Palemia, in 2017 that he was the intended target of the assassination plot 20 years ago.
When asked by his co-author, Peter Swain, if he was afraid of being targeted, Tuilaepa said that his life may have been at risk and that from time to time his personal security had been threatened by ‘nutters’.
But the Prime Minister said he was convinced that his destiny was already written.
Two Cabinet Ministers at the time of the startling event were given life sentence for plotting the murder of Luagalau.
The son of one of the ministers, Alatise Leafa Vitale, was sentenced to death for pulling the trigger.
In April 2000 Leafa Vitale and To’I Aukuso were convicted of murder and received the mandatory sentence of death by hanging. Their sentences were commuted by the Head of State at the time to life imprisonment. To’i died while serving his prison sentence and Leafa was paroled in 2010 for health reasons together with his son Alatise Leafa Vitale later that year.
On August 6, 2010, Leafa was pardoned along with other prisoners in an amnesty to celebrate Samoa’s 50th anniversary of Independence.
Earlier last month, political assassin Alatise was recalled by the Parole Board to serve his life imprisonment term after breaching parole conditions.