By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 20 June 2025 – Police witness, Mano Ututau Wright has contradicted his older brother Tupuola Alatanu Wright’s earlier evidence that he was present when Tupuola and former MP Fepuleai Faimata Sua met at Tupuola’s house sometime in 2023.

Tupuola gave evidence on Wednesday that when Fepuleai came to see him and asked him to lie for Sam, Mano and Tauofe Taaloga Tamua were present.

Tauofe also confirmed Tupuola’s evidence that Mano was with them when Fepuleai and Tupuola had a conversation and that Fepuleai bribed them all.

However, in court yesterday, Mano said he was not there.

His recollection was that he was at his own house not far from where Tupuola and Fepuleai were talking, and it was after Fepuleai left that he walked up to Tupuola’s house and asked who he was talking to.

Mano said Tupuola told him that it was the Member of Parliament Fepuleai.

Tupuola’s evidence never mentioned that Mano and Tauofe were present when he met Fepuleai but only came up during his oral evidence.

Defense counsel, KC Richard Marchant put it to Tupuola that the reason why he never mentioned Tauofe and Mano was because none of them was present at the time he met Fepuleai met. Tupuola insisted that both men were present to which Marchant called him a “liar”.

Mano made a statement in October 2023 and said he could not remember a time when Fepuleai met his brother Tupuola which is different from the oral testimony in court.

He said it was a long time ago but denied any knowledge of being present with Tauofe and Tupuola during Fepuleai’s visit.

Mano said he saw a car and someone talking to his brother but did not know who it was.

He also denied that he was bribed by Fepuleai.

As Marchants line of questioning continued, prosecutor Taimalelagi Leinafo Strickland intervened and argued that such questions were not put to Tupuola and asked the court for a chance to recall Tupuola to respond to the same questions.

Marchant said it was fine with him.

 Sam as a police informant
Sam said in his statement that he was a “police informant” which was denied by Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo and Superintendent Tupai Sapani Lelelimafaga in their testimonies.

Mano however told the court that Sam was a police “spy”.

When further questioned by defence counsel Marchant, he confirmed that Sam was working for the police as an “informant”.

Asked how he knew this, Mano said he and Sam had worked together for a long time and police always came around asking for Sam.

He thought the police were Tupuolas friends but realised later that they were Sam’s friends.

He said sometimes Sam does not turn up to work but had gone to the police.

“He went to inform police of something he knew, is that true?” asked Marchant.

“Yes” said Mano.

He said police came around to see Sam regularly, not to arrest him but because he was an informant.

The case continues with the Police Deputy Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai Keti taking the stand today.