Samoa's Prime Minister has admonished members of the judiciary for drinking alcohol in public.
Samoa PM and Police Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegoai Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The Sunday Samoan newspaper published a letter by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi that he addressed to the acting Chief Justice and the President of the Land and Titles Court, entitled 'Drinking Alcohol in Public Places'.
He wrote that there had been too many reports of judges drinking in public, which was behaviour unbecoming of judges.
People were writing to complain to him about the incidents, he said.
"There are also many unsavoury incidents that are happening and not dealt with by yourselves, but word still gets back to me as I am the one that the people come to with issues," he wrote.
Tuilaepa accused the judiciary of knowing about incidents that had happened but had classified them as "socialising".
"Your appointments are sacred and you should uphold the sanctity of these callings," he said.
He told the judicial leaders that he was writing in the spirit of collaboration between the individual branches of government.