The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe, has rejected reports that a warrant of arrest has been issued against the Associate Minister of Trade, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him.
Contrary to media reports, Masinalupe clarified during an interview with the Samoa Observer yesterday that although the Associate Minister faces new charges, there is no warrant for his arrest.
Masinalupe, however, confirmed that the Associate Minister was expected to appear in Court on Monday to face charges of theft and misappropriation of funds in relation to a company called Grand Ocean Industries (Samoa) Ltd.
Muagututagata is apparently a former business partner of the Chinese-owned company, engaged in the development of solar power in Samoa.
According to Masinalupe; the matter was heard before the Supreme Court in the absence of a Judge.
“A [deputy] registrar had called the matter in Court but he [Muagututagata] didn’t appear,” said Masinalupe.
The Registrar then adjourned the matter to Monday 14 July for it to be heard before a Judge. He added that the file of Muagututagata’s case indicates that the reason for the adjournment was due to the “unavailability of the court.”
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“So there was no warrant issued,” he said.
Masinalupe explained that the unavailability of the Court to hear the matters scheduled that day was because the Judges and Court staff members were attending the “opening of the Family Law Forum” hosted by the U.N. Women.
He also confirmed that Muagututagata’s absence in Court that day was because the Court had contacted the Associate Minister’s lawyer to inform them about what was happening.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, the Associate Minister, after hearing media reports, visited his office the following day on Tuesday to tell him that his lawyer had already been warned that the Court was not available to hear the matter.
Documents obtained by the Samoa Observer show that the Chinese-owned company which laid the complaint against Muagututagata are his former business partners.
Grand Ocean Industries (Samoa) Ltd that was registered as a Samoan company on 7 November 2012. Muagututagata’s involvement in the company is a result of his being the local shareholder.
Company documents on-line indicated the M.P. owned 10 per cent of the shares while the company’s other two directors are listed in company records as Chinese businessmen Tao-yu Chang, with 70 shares, and Fang Hui, with 20 shares.
Prior to this, Muagututagata had faced another civil matter involving the same company in relation to unpaid invoices and an unpaid land lease.
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