Sangstar Saulala, the editor of the Tonga Star, appeared in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this week to answer a claim by the new Minister of Labour and Commerce, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, that he failed to honor and pay an out-of-court settlement that they agreed to in 2003.

In 2003 Dr Feleti Sevele brought a civil defamation case against Sangstar Saulala, as the publisher and the editor of the Tonga Star newspaper, claiming that a letter written by ...‘Ate Fulufulu that was published in the Tonga Star Vol. 2 No. 56 of February 2003 was wrong, untrue and defamatory.

On November 21, 2003, the lawyers of both parties, Laki Niu for Sevele and William Edward JR for Saulala agreed to settle the case out-of ...–court. They entered a verbal agreement for an apology in the next Tonga Star newspaper and payment to Sevele of damages and costs amounting to $32,500 pa'anga.

Sangstar did not honour their agreement and Sevele was suing him for the payment of damages and costs, and for an apology.

Dr Feleti Sevele...’s is now represented by Harry Waalken, and Sangstar Saulala is represented by William Clive Edwards Snr. The hearing presided over by Justice Anthony Ford, started on Monday April 11 and is expected to be completed on Thursday April 14.