7 March 2022, Apia Samoa. Samoa’s former Assistant Electoral Commissioner Faumui Afualo Daryl Mapu, arrested and charged with possession of drugs and illegal weapons last December appeared in the Supreme court this morning.
Afualo, 38, is denying all charges filed against him following a police raid of his Nuu-Fou home last December, where he and a colleague from the Electoral Office were arrested and charged.
Represented in Court by defense counsel, Magele Leona Su’a-Mailo, Afualo entered not guilty pleas to all six charges including possessions of narcotics, possession of utensils, possessions of an unlicensed firearm, possessions of unlawful ammunition, possession of ammunition without permits, and possession of an unlawful weapon.
Justice Tuatagaloa noted the not guilty pleas by the defendant, and set a June 2022 hearing date for the former Assistant Electoral Commissioner, to be trialed together with Ms Marie Fanueli.
During the bail hearing for Afualo last week befiore Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, defense presented affidavits from third parties claiming the drugs, utensils, illegal weapons and ammunition seized by Police, belonged to them.
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