Deputy Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, is appealing his conviction in relation to an incident involving the Police on Beach Road, last year.
The appeal follows the District Court’s decision, which found Fonotoe guilty of encouraging his colleague and Associate Minister, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, to obstruct a Police officer.
He was convicted and asked to pay $200 to the Police.
On Monday this week, Fonotoe’s lawyer, Donald Kerslake, filed an appeal before Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu, in the Supreme Court.
The details of the appeal could not be obtained from the Court.
But the Court set a hearing date for the appeal on the week starting on 29 September 2014.
When Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai sentenced Fonotoe, he said the Police officers were merely doing their jobs.
“The real victims of Mr Meredith’s offending were the police constables who were on duty,” Judge Vaepule said during sentencing.
“They were left stunned and professionally deflated after the two parliamentarians left. Neither of the officers affected has since received an apology (formal or otherwise) from Mr Meredith to convey his remorse."
“Furthermore, I fail to see the relevance or significance of the public apology he apparently made, because the conduct he was found guilty of was not directly against the public he apologised to but against the police officers whom he has not.”
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The appeal follows the District Court’s decision, which found Fonotoe guilty of encouraging his colleague and Associate Minister, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, to obstruct a Police officer.
He was convicted and asked to pay $200 to the Police.
On Monday this week, Fonotoe’s lawyer, Donald Kerslake, filed an appeal before Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu, in the Supreme Court.
The details of the appeal could not be obtained from the Court.
But the Court set a hearing date for the appeal on the week starting on 29 September 2014.
When Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Va'ai sentenced Fonotoe, he said the Police officers were merely doing their jobs.
“The real victims of Mr Meredith’s offending were the police constables who were on duty,” Judge Vaepule said during sentencing.
“They were left stunned and professionally deflated after the two parliamentarians left. Neither of the officers affected has since received an apology (formal or otherwise) from Mr Meredith to convey his remorse."
“Furthermore, I fail to see the relevance or significance of the public apology he apparently made, because the conduct he was found guilty of was not directly against the public he apologised to but against the police officers whom he has not.”