Pacific / Samoa

Anti-govt blogger 'King Faipopo' pleads guilty in Samoa

09:42 am on 24 July 2019

A prominent Samoan anti-government blogger has pleaded guilty to defaming the prime minister.

Malele Paulo Atofu, known on social media as King Faipopo Photo: RNZ/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Malele Atofu Paulo, who's widely known as King Faipopo, appeared in court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to one charge under the criminal libel law.

The attorney general dropped 14 other charges after negotiations that followed the defence announcement that it would seek a restorative justice process.

Malele will be sentenced on the 8 August.