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Pig's head hurler pleads not-guilty on Samoa immigration charge

 Talalelei Pauga and supporters outside court in Apia
Source: RNZI

Apia, SAMOA — The man who threw a pig's head at Samoa's prime minister has entered a not guilty plea on a charge over an alleged immigration offence.

Talalelei Pauga is accused of making a false declaration on a passenger arrival card when he entered the country in January

The Samoa Observer said the 41-year-old appeared before District Court Judge, Leota Raymond Schuster, for mention.

The judge ordered the defendant to surrender his passport, and adjourned the case to mid-May.

Mr Pauga threw a pig's head at Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi in Brisbane last year.

He described it as a form of protest against Tuilaepa for not listening to the people of Samoa on important issues facing the country.

Mr Pauga was charged by Australian Police with disturbing the peace when he threw the pig's head but was later discharged without conviction.

He had been summoned by the matai council of his village, Manono-tai, over the incident but the council decided not to punish him.