Samoa's Public Service Commission is reported to have suspended several top officials of the internal affairs department and charged them with malpractice.
The move was reported by the Samoa Observer which quotes the commissioner, Ale Vena Ale, as saying those in question have been charged under the PSC Act.
Among those suspended is the secreatry of internal affairs, Savea Foma'i Sapolu, who has reportedly been on leave since late last week.
No details have ben given and the internal affairs minister, Tuala Ainiu, has described the press report as a ploy cooked up to sell newspapers.