A new Assistant President for the Land and Titles Court was sworn in this week, Leituala Mesepi Sialaoa who has been elevated to the senior position after clocking nine years on the bench. 

Leituala had her oath administered before the President for L.T.C., Lesatele Rapi Vaai, and witnessed by other judges of the court. 

The appointment comes after the end of the contract for another former Assistant President, Tiatia Faleupolu Tevita this month. 

Leituala was initially appointed as a Judge for L.T.C. in 2015 and is from the villages of Vaimoso, Siusega, Solosolo, Lufilufi, Fasito’o, Salamumu and Saleaula, Savaia, Fagamalo, Satoalepai, Vaito’omuli and Salelologa. 

She also holds the matai titles Luamanuvae, Naea, Aufa'I, Matavao and Fiu. 

A well-respected athlete in the sporting industry she received a lifetime honorary awards for service in sports in 2022. 

Born from a sporting family, Leituala left footprints in netball, basketball, volleyball, rugby, hockey, track and field athletics. 

She represented Samoa’s national teams in the international arena. 

The Assistant President played a pivotal role in the development of women’s rugby team in 1998, setting up the Samoa Old Students Association (S.C.O.P.A) hockey, and growing sports administration. 

She is a recipient of Samoa’s Sportswoman Award in 1993 alongside the late Papalii Peter Fatialofa who received the Samoa’s Sportsman’s Award.