The United States-based Tongan Lawyer Phil (Filia) Uipi has denied allegations police had escorted him out of a court in Salt Lake City under the direction of a judge.
A woman by the name of Taufa’āhau Tau’atevalu claimed in a video clip uploaded to Youtube last week that Uipi was at the Salt Lake City court.
In Tongan she said: “Na’e toki show up pe ia he ‘aho ko ia”.
An interviewer by the name of ‘Eleni interrupted and asked Tau’atevalu whether the police escorted Uipi out of the court.
Responding, Tau’atevalu said “yes”.
Tau’atevalu’s allegations came after she claimed three Tongan women had been sent to jail after they had allegedly attacked and beat her.
She also claimed Uipi was at the court to represent the women.
But Lawyer Uipi has denied the allegations against him to Kaniva News.
Uipi said he has not attended any court in Salt Lake City for a year now because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
He said the hearings in which he has been involved have been conducted online.
He said he never knew the three accused.
Uipi said if it was true, the accused had to hire him before he can file the “Entry of Appearance of Counsel” so he could represent them in court.
He said the allegation that he had been sacked from the court by a judge was fragile. “pelepelengesi”.
Uipi said lawyers and judges in the US have “a very courteous relationship”.
Uipi is a member of the Utah State Bar, United States Supreme Court Bar and has been approved to be a restricted member of Tonga Law Society.
He was a former member of the Utah House of Representative.
He said he has been working as a lawyer in the US for 35 years.
