Kiwi in Samoa charged in relation to gang-hit murder in Vietnam

A New Zealand citizen in Samoa has been charged with conspiracy to murder over the death of an Australian gang leader gunned down in Vietnam.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Samoa Police announced in a joint statement that a 31-year-old New Zealand national and a 33-year-old Samoan national have been charged with conspiracy to murder.

In May, Australian-Samoan Lorenzo Lemalu, 24, was one of two men shot outside a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lemalu, connected to Sydney’s Coconut Cartel gang, was killed in the incident.

Another Australian-Samoan, Sauni Sam, 27, was allegedly shot once and suffered serious injuries, but survived.

Two Samoan nationals – Va’a Va’a, 26, and Tafia Steve, 22 – were later arrested by Vietnamese police. They remain in custody there.

Samoa Police investigation finds other links to alleged murder

During their investigations, Samoa Police discovered local links to an alleged gang killing in Vietnam. File photo / Dean Purcell

In Samoa, investigations by local police, with assistance from Australian authorities, resulted in charges against the Samoan-New Zealander and 33-year-old based in the island nation.

“Samoa Police will allege these men conspired with the Samoan men arrested in Vietnam to carry out the alleged murder in Vietnam,” the statement said.

Both men in Samoa appeared in court yesterday and were granted conditional bail.

AFP’s acting commander Pacific, Greg Davis, said the charges reflected the strength of international law enforcement co-operation across the Pacific and broader region.

He said the Pacific remains a strong and united front against transnational organised crime.

“The charges laid are the result of extensive co-operation between Samoa Police, Vietnamese authorities and the AFP, demonstrating what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together across borders.

“Organised crime does not respect national boundaries, so law enforcement agencies must work together to combat them.”

Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.