In Samoa, a foreign lawyer has been selected to prosecute the suspended Police Commissioner's case.
Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, in the middle heading to court with his lawyer (right) a family supporter and civilian police officers behind. Photo: Tipi Autagavaia
Fuiavailili Egon Keil is facing four criminal charges over an unlawful arrest by the police of a man at the Fugalei market last year including one charge of unlawful detention, one of perjury, as well as one of providing false statements and disorderly conduct.
Samoa's Attorney General and acting Director of National Prosecution Office, Lemalu Herman Retzlaff, has selected an independent New Zealand based prosecutor, Paul Dacre QC for the prosecution.
The Attorney General said the overseas lawyer would independently review the police commissioner's case file and liaise with the NPO's assistant director.
Following the selection announcement, questions have been raised overwhy an overseas-based senior lawyer arranged and chosen by the suspended acting Director of the NPO office, Muriel Lui, has not been taken by the Attorney General.
It is understood the suspended acting director has chosen a private prosecutor in New Zealand because of previous criminal cases he had prosecuted in Samoa including the political assassination case of a government minister.
The AG's choice of another New Zealand based lawyer, Satiu Simativa Perese, to prosecute the suspended Director of Public Prosecution on traffic offences has also gone ahead.