The Samoa government suspended newspaper editor, Tupuola Terry Tavita, has entered a not guilty plea to five charges, including of indecent assault.
It comes after the accused appeared yesterday before Justice Mata Tuatagaloa in the District Court.
Justice Tuatagaloa has declared a conflict of interest and the trial will now be heard by Justice Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai.
Mr Tavita was originally charged with attempting to rape a female journalist student at the National University of Samoa last December.
The prosecution on Monday withdrew that charge and substituted indecent assault charges.