Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu
Samoan politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Afioga Faaolesa Katopau Ainu’u is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Faaolesa Katopau Ainu’u | |
---|---|
Minister of Justice | |
In office 18 March 2016 – 24 May 2021 | |
Prime Minister | Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi |
Preceded by | Fiame Naomi Mata'afa |
Succeeded by | Matamua Vasati Pulufana |
Member of the Samoa Parliament for Vaimauga Sisifo No.2 | |
In office 4 March 2016 – 9 April 2021 | |
Preceded by | Lefau Harry Schuster |
Succeeded by | Lefau Harry Schuster |
Personal details | |
Political party | Human Rights Protection Party |
Ainu’u was educated at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, U.S. International University in San Diego, California, and the University of Hawaiʻi.[1] He practised law in both Samoa and American Samoa,[1] and was the owner of the Samoa Post newspaper.[2] In 2008 he was charged in American Samoa with embezzlement, fraud and theft after he allegedly charged a client $5,000 for legal services he did not provide. An arrest warrant was issued, but never served, and was finally quashed in 2016.[3][4]
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa at the 2016 Samoan general election[5] and appointed Minister of Justice.[2][6] As Minister of Justice he reinstated a previously-repealed criminal libel law.[7] In 2017 he was accused of attempting to influence the President of the Land and Titles Court of Samoa over a case he was involved in.[8] In 2018 he was accused of having files relating to his Ainu’u title illegally removed from the court and taken to his office.[9] Ainu’u denied the claim, but Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi claimed it was justified.[10] Ministry of Justice Chief Executive Papali'i John Taimalelagi was later suspended, then fired for unlawfully releasing the files to the Minister.[11] In December 2020 the law was amended to remove the Minister's control over court files.[12]
Ainu’u is a supporter of the Land and Titles Bill.[13]
Ainu’u lost his seat in the April 2021 Samoan general election.[14]