The head of Samoa's police and the Director of Public Prosecution have both been charged in separate incidents.
Samoa's Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, has been served with four criminal charges over an unlawful arrest by the police of a man at the Fugalei market last year.
The Commissioner is facing one charge of unlawful detention, one of perjury, as well as one of providing false statements and disorderly conduct.
A senior lawyer and prosecutor of the National Prosecution office said the Police Commissioner is charged under the Ombudsman Act, Crimes Ordinance Act and the Police offences Act.
Samoa's Police Commissioner Egon Keil Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The charges were laid last Friday but served to the Commissioner this morning when he arrived from overseas after two weeks leave.
Meanwhile the Director of Public Prosecution, Mauga Precious Chang, was arrested by the police this morning over traffic offences committed two months ago.
"The police are just doing their job. The system works - now the police can arrest me. That means police can arrest anyone," she said adding that she would discuss denying or accepting the charges with her lawyer.
Mauga is charged with negligent driving causing injury and dangerous driving.