The professional standards unit of the Ministry of Police in Samoa has launched an internal investigation into the disappearance of files from a criminal case being brought against the owner of an immigration agency operating in New Zealand and Samoa.
It comes after the police were accused of corruption in the dismissal of the case against the owner of the agency who was charged with stealing three and half thousand US dollars from a client.
The allegedly stolen money was payments of fees and airfares made by a family that was included in the 2004 annual immigration quota set by New Zealand.
The family was issued with receipts of payment but says it never saw the air tickets.
They complained to police but the case was dismissed because the prosecution could not locate the files.
The assistant police commissioner, Papalii Li'o, says the outcome of the investigation by the professional standards unit will help find the culprits behind the missing files.
He says the case will be going back to court.