The Supreme Court has granted bail to James Tuisavailuu Atua and Fred Oliva Junior Papalii after the Prosecution withdrew its opposition to their release.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Leutele Mata Tuatagaloa said: “O lea ua leai se tetee, ua aveese le tete’e a le Itu a Leoleo e faasaga ia te oe oulua i le tatalaina o oulua i tua.”
The Judge then confirmed that the Court has approved their release subject to strict bail conditions.
“O lea ua talia ai e le Faamasinoga, lea o le a tatala oulua i luga o tuutuuga nei..”
Justice Tuatagaloa ordered that a Departure Prohibition Order (DPO) be placed against both defendants through Immigration, preventing them from leaving Samoa without the Court’s permission.
For James Atua, the Court ordered that he must reside at Faleasi’u and is not permitted to live elsewhere unless prior approval is obtained from the Court.
“James Atua, ia e nofo i Faleasiu. E lē mafai ona e nofo i se isi nofoaga vagana ua avatu le maliega a le Faamasinoga.”
He was also ordered to report to the Afega Police Station every Wednesday and Friday before 12 noon each week.
The Court further directed that Atua must not contact any Prosecution witnesses or any person known to be a witness in the case.
“Tapu se fesootaiga ma nisi o tagata e iloa o ni molimau a le Itu a Leoleo i lenei mataupu.”
Justice Tuatagaloa also warned Atua not to commit any further offences while on bail.
For Fred Papalii, the Court ordered that he must reside at Siumu and report to the Poutasi Police Station every Wednesday and Friday before 12 noon each week.
Papalii is prohibited from contacting any Prosecution witnesses connected to the case and must not commit any further offences while awaiting trial.
The two men are jointly facing 30 charges of money laundering.
The pair are connected to the two young men arrested for the murder of Coconut Cartel leader, Lorenzo Lemalu, via the business, Unalei Rental Cars.
Unalei Rental Cars is owned by James Atua. The two young men now facing the death penalty in Vietnam had both worked for Unalei Rental Cars. When they left Samoa to travel to Vietnam, they were dropped off to the airport by another staff member of Unalei Rentals.
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