13 September 2019 Mulinuu Apia Samoa. The CEO of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration who is also the Secretary of the Judiciary Services Commission (JSC) has confirmed the suspension of three Lands and Titles Court Judges.
In a media statement Ms Moliei Simi Vaai confirmed that Deputy President Sevealii Panapa Vee, Senior Judge Lavea Siaosi Hazelman and Judge Nanai Pologa Ioane were suspended as of Monday 9 September 2019.
“Three Lands and Titles Court Judges have been suspended by the Acting Chief Justice and Chairman of the JSC”.
Suspension is “pending an investigation by a Committee to be appointed by the JSC to look into allegations regarding a decision of the LTC that involved the three LTC judges,” reads the statement.
The CEO OF MJCA and Secretary of the JSC says that members of the Committee to carry out the investigation of the suspended judges have yet to be revealed by the JSC.
By Constitution Samoa’s JSC is currently Chaired by the Acting Chief Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and includes the Attorney General Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, President of the Land and Titles Court Fepulea’i Atilla Ropati, retired Supreme Court Judge Tuiloma Neroni Slade, and a member of the public Letaa Dan Devoe. The CEO OF MJCA holds the position of Secretary to the JSC.
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