Samoa assassination plot thickens with extradition application
Samoan Police is working to extradite a Samoan based in Australia, Talalelei Pauga, in connection to an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
Police Commissioner, Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil, confirmed that the Police had made an extradition application during an interview with the
“We are working to extradite him back to Samoa. I can confirm that it’s in the works and that these things take time,” he said.
“We are working with our overseas counterparts to see through the process so we can extradite him back into the country to face charges.”
Pauga - who is also known by the online alias ‘ninja’ - threw a pig’s head and dog food at Prime Minister Tuilaepa in Brisbane Australia last year. In relation to the assassination plot, the Police allege that money changed hands between the alleged conspirators involved.
The has learned Police executed a search warrant relating to a recent financial transfer into Samoa from Australia that they believe may be connected to the alleged plot. Pauga, who lives in Brisbane works as a civil servant for the Australian Government. He has not returned repeated requests for comment made via e-mail, social media and telephone. The Australian Federal Police declined to comment, citing a longstanding policy against offering commentary on matters involving other countries.
In the meantime, the Commissioner warned that any threat against the Prime Minister, whether on social media or any platform will not be taken lightly by the Police.
“The Police Service will not sit idle when there are threats targeting the Prime Minister,” the Commissioner said. “We will act accordingly.”
The Commissioner told the
that a threat against the Prime Minister is a threat against the country.