Journalists attempting to gain entry into the courtroom where former cabinet minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt was appearing on Friday found themselves unable to enter the room.

Unlike on Tuesday, there were three benches made available for media covering the case but when journalists arrived at court on Friday, they were told that there was only one bench for media and already taken up as only three people could fit on the bench.

Outside of the court, police set up barricades using a crowd control fence.

Samoa Observer journalist Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi was rudely chased out of the courtroom by a police officer identified as Koreti Fidow.

She told the journalist that space for media was limited to one bench as space was needed for supporters of the accused who had come from overseas.

The journalist after the Laauli matter went to a Supreme Court matter which was also packed. Police officers acted oppositely by making space on a bench for the media to do its work.

Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti said she had enquired with officers at the court and they had advised that the court was full.

“There is a bench allocated for media personnel on a first come first serve basis. A lot of individuals are claiming to be media however with no formal IDs to identify if this is true,” she said responding to queries.

“Police only know senior media personnel but others it is hard. Maybe in future cases of public interest Journalist Association of Samoa (JAWS) can organise media access to assist with police work at the courts.”  

According to judiciaries across the world and even in Samoa, the media have an important role in the reporting of courts as the eyes and ears of the public. They are integral to an open, impartial, and transparent justice system.