The following is a rebuttal by Attorney General Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale
to the Amnesty International labelling Talalelei Pauga’s extradition from Australia as
“politically motivated.” The article published by the Samoa Observer newspaper on
Friday 02 nd October 2020.
EXTRADITION ‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
(6 th OCTOBER 2020); The Attorney General of Samoa responds to the concerns by
Global human rights watch-dog Amnesty International in the Samoa Observer Article
dated 2 October 2020.
*** 1. The Attorney General confirms that the Office has made a lawful request to the
Australian Attorney Generals Department in February 2020, to extradite Mr. Talalelei
Pauga who is alleged to have committed the offence of ‘conspiracy to commit murder’.
‘Conspiracy to commit murder’ is a serious offence under section 106 of the Crimes Act
2013, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
2. The Attorney General also confirms that Australia has honored Samoa’s extradition
request in accordance with its obligations under Australia’s Extradition Act 1988 and
Extradition (Samoa) Regulations 2010.
3. The Attorney General further confirms that Mr. Pauga is one of the principal
defendants and should be tried together in Samoa, with his other two co-defendants
Lema’i Faioso Sione and Malele Atofu Paulo, who have already been charged for this
matter and are awaiting a hearing date. The Attorney General furthermore confirms that
there is sufficient evidence to support the charge against Mr. Pauga. Given that the
hearing of the other two co-defendants have yet to commence, the evidence
surrounding the case cannot be disclosed at this stage.
4. The Attorney General is duty bound to pursue the extradition request of Mr. Pauga
and institute criminal proceedings in Samoa as there is sufficient evidence to support
the alleged offence committed by Mr. Pauga. The Attorney General is also mandated to
uphold the Constitution of Samoa, which includes the right to a fair trial. At this stage
the Attorney General is awaiting the outcome of the extradition proceedings in Australia.