Pacific / Samoa

Samoan PM calls for barred lawyers to be banned

11:47 am on 6 December 2018

countries.

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has called on the Samoa Law Society to ban lawyers who are barred from practising in other

countries.

Samoa PM and Police Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegoai Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Tuilaepa said there are lawyers practising in Samoa who have been de-registered overseas and are not allowed to practise in their home countries as a result of serious offences and professional misconduct.

He said these lawyers are taking tax payers money through legal aid fees.

"Ironically, according to my information, the same lawyers have made it a habit to mislead members of the public, to sue the government with full knowledge

that it's a lost cause. And in the end, the lawyers walk away as winners pocketing thousands of tala in legal fees," he said.