Supreme Court bails Sam's wife
The Supreme Court granted bail to one of the defendants facing a string of conspiracy-related charges, overturning a District Court ruling to deny bail.
Senior Justice, Vui Clarence Nelson handed down the decision on Friday after hearing an appeal sought by Sam Sua and Sivai Mamea Kepi earlier this week for bail pending trial.
Sivai was granted bail with strict conditions that she resides at Tafaigata with her children, surrender travel documents, no contact with police witnesses and co-defendants which is extended on social media platforms.
The woman is to sign in at the police station twice a week. She was finally released after being in custody since February.
Sua on the other hand remains in custody after the prosecution informed the court of other issues against the defendant.
He will appear again in the Supreme Court next week to allow the defence to respond to those issues.
Lawyer Josephine Fuimaono Sapolu and Unasa Iuni Sapolu represented the couple and the assigned prosecutor was Leinafo Taimalelagi Strickland.
District Court Senior Judge Talasa Saaga denied bail for the couple on the grounds that they were flight risks amongst other concerns alleging interference with witnesses.
Sua is facing 104 final charges from the prosecution; 16 counts of misleading police, 16 counts of fabricating evidence, 27 counts of defamation, 13 counts of insulting words and the rest are joint charges for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to commit an offence.
His wife is facing a total of 59 charges; 21 counts of misleading police, 21 counts of fabricating evidence, two counts of attempts to pervert the course of justice, seven joint charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, three joint charges of conspiracy to commit offence and one count of accessory after the fact.
Both defendants have denied the charges against them together with three other co-defendants.
All defendants will appear again before the District Court next week to schedule a hearing date following a joint memorandum from defence counsels.