25 March, 2019. Former employee of Drake & Co Law Firm has entered a plea of not guilty to 264 charges of theft as a servant and falsifying or altering dcuments.
Matagofie Brown Laititi appeared before Chief Justice Patu Tiavasu’e Falefatu Sapolu this morning represented by defense counsel Arthur Lesa while Marie Sio-Ofoia was the prosecutor.
Chief Justice has set the matter for trial on the week commencing the 16th of September 2019 adding that the Court has set aside 2 weeks for the trial.
“O le mataupu lea e faasaga ia te oe o lea ua tuuina mai lau tetee i moliaga uma lava.
“Ma o le a tolopoina la le mataupu lenei e faia lau faamasinoga e amata i le Aso Gafua 16 o Setema i le tausaga nei.
“Ma e lua vaiaso e fai ai lau faamasinoga.”
Ms. Brown was denied legal aid and she informed the Court that she still needs a lawyer and she is willing to pay for it.
Samoa Global News understands that the amount involved in the matter against Ms. Brown is over $100k allegedly stolen between 2016 – 2018 when she was working for Drake & Co Law Firm.
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