Two alleged plotters accused of organising the shooting murder of Australian citizen Lorenzo Lemalu in Vietnam have been granted bail by a court in Samoa.
The men, a 31-year-old New Zealand national and a 33-year-old Samoan national, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to murder. They will remain in the Samoan community while the case proceeds.
Lemalu, a 24-year-old Sydney-based gang boss, was shot dead outside a seafood restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21. Another Australian citizen was seriously injured in the attack.
Vietnamese authorities arrested two Samoan nationals, aged 22 and 26, on May 24 over allegations they carried out the shooting.
The latest arrests followed a four-month international investigation. The New Zealand man had previously been charged in May with misleading police and corruption offences and was arrested while attempting to leave Samoa.
If convicted of conspiracy to murder, both men face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Police also arrested two alleged gunmen after Lemalu’s funeral in June was targeted at a venue in Punchbowl, western Sydney. A 17-year-old and a 23-year-old were accused of firing 30 rounds from a semi-automatic rifle.
The Australian Federal Police assisted Samoa Police with the latest arrests by executing a search warrant, conducting financial inquiries and interviewing witnesses. Officers also carried out a forensic examination of electronic material.
AFP Pacific acting commander Greg Davis said international co-operation was essential in tackling organised crime.
“Organised crime does not respect national boundaries, so law enforcement agencies must work together to combat them,” he said.
“Criminal networks rely on international connections to facilitate serious offending, which is why regional partnerships are critical to disrupting and dismantling them.”
Mr Davis commended Samoa Police for its “commitment, professionalism and determination” during the investigation.
