Pacific / Samoa

A retired Samoa judge is to lead police inquiry

19:14 pm on 1 June 2017

A retired Supreme Court judge in Samoa, Lesatele Rapi Va'ai, will chair a Commission of Inquiry investigating three police officers.

The inquiry's terms of reference will investigate suspended assistant police commissioner Mulinuu Samoa Mulinuu,and the former police inspector, Luatimu Samau, on allegations of tampering with evidence in a police traffic case brought against the former director of the National Prosecution office, Mauga Precious Chang.

Suspended police corporal, Hillary Eteuati, will be investigated on a criminal matter and whether his conduct had breached his police duties.

The assistant police commissioner will also be investigated for a separate allegation of misconduct over the handling of a criminal case.

The Commission of Inquiry will sit from Monday next week and the public is invited to make submissions.

All three officers were involved in the failed attempt to bring criminal charges against the Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, last year.