The wife of the late Chief Justice Patu Tiavaasu’e Falefatu Sapolu, Iliganoa Sapolu gave evidence yesterday in the Supreme Court.
Iiganoa is contesting her late husband’s will in court against her sister in law, Samoa’s Ombudsman Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu.
Ili told the court, she doesn’t believe the contents of the Will, especially how it has been handled by her husband’s sister, who happens to be another beneficiary of the Will.
Ili said she’s been married to Falefatatu for 28 years, and they have never talked about a Will.
In the affidavit of Falefatu’s sister Luamanuvao, she told the court that, Falefatu always had a Will. He was a cautious person, and there were things that he kept confidential including the Will.
Luamanuvao also said: Falefatu asked her to draft a Will for him after he was separated from his first wife and after their mother passed away, Falefatu asked her again to draft another will.
Iliganoa refused to accept most of what’s written on the currently disputed will citing their relationship was based on trust.
“I met Falefatu in 1992, we got married in 1993, and we have always been loved each other. In 2019, Falefatu retired from the government, and then in January 2020, he was sick.”
On the 25th Sept 2021 they left for NZ to seek medical help for Falefatu.
Her husband for 28 years has always been an honest man. He didn’t have friends she was the only friend of Falefatu.
Ili told the court, Falefatu was aware of her assets, and she’s aware of his assets as well, but her husband used to tell her as a joke, not to worry about a will, she’ll keep all of their properties.
Ili said she’s asked Falefatu about the four acres of land for his children. Luamanuvao told the court that, Falefatu signed the Will at the hospital, with two individuals present to witness.
They both saw Falefatu signed the documents, and they’d signed too as witnesses.
Luamanuvao also mentioned the two checks being signed by Falefatu on the 25th Sept 2021,
The checks were for his wife Ili, to pay for the airfares and to buy NZDollars for pocket money. She further argues, that her brother’s signature on the Will matches the signatures on the checks.
Ili argued, that the signature on the Will is a fraud, and provided a Specialist to investigate the signature on the will.
The Expert failed to provide the court with an appropriate copy of what she’s been required of, saying she didn’t have a laptop.
The case continues today in the supreme court.