Pacific

Samoa MP risks prosecution over Satapuala roadblock

13:23 pm on 21 August 2012

A Samoan opposition MP may face criminal charges over his alleged involvement in a land dispute .

Villagers from Satapuala partially blocked a road from Apia to Faleolo airport last week to prevent land surveyors and police accessing land they are claiming.

Our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says the Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, told parliament this morning he would be referring an investigation over Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster's conduct to the attorney general.

"He said clearly in his ministerial address, the member of parliament for A'ana number 3, who is also a matai of Satapuala village, and his uncle, were very much involved in a conspiracy to stage a criminal activity, or sending the youth and several matais to a road bock, by blocking part of the road by using rocks."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says Tuila'epa referred to the village building the roadblock as terrorism.

Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster declined to comment on the investigation