When Adeline Godinet-Sau entered the Ministry of Police and Prisons in 1999, she had one idea in mind – to help the people of Samoa.
It never dawned on her then that one day she would have to go against the Ministry in a move that would transform and bring major changes to the Police Force.
Mrs. Sau is the writer of what has become known as the “ghost letter,” the final straw that led to two Commissions of Inquiry, which unveiled corruption and mismanagement at the Tafa’igata Prison.
Mrs. Sau was eventually sacked by the Police for the letter.
But the final report for one of the Commissions ordered that she be reinstated.
Now, according to the former Police officer, it all started when her numerous reports to the Commissioner detailing corrupt and immoral practises at Tafa’igata Prison were ignored.
At the time, she was the female Warden at Tafa’igata.
“When I started work with the Ministry it never entered my mind that these things could be happening at Tafa’igata,” she said.
“I’m talking about things that are immoral and corrupt, it would shame anyone who is a Police officer.”
Mrs. Sau said she could not believe the amount of extra-marital affairs and inappropriate “liaisons” between Police officers and prisoners.
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And after several attempts to bring these issues to the attention of her superiors at the time, Mrs. Sau finally decided to write the “ghost letter.”
The letter was initially written in 2010 but it only came to light some years later.
“I had to approach the Prime Minister in order to get this out,” she said.
Although she did not sign it, Mrs. Sau sent the letter to a number of key government officials such as the Attorney General.
The letter was also copied to the Samoa Observer.
When the Samoa Observer raised the issues in the letter, Prime Minister Tuilaepa described the letter as the “ghost letter,” urging the writer to step forward so that the allegations could be substantiated and investigated.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Sau had lost her job as a result of the letter.
But she would later be vindicated after Cabinet suspended the then Commissioner, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo, and the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Tafa’igata Prison, Sala Seaga Uili, to allow a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the claims in Mrs. Sau’s letter.
The first Inquiry backed the majority of claims in Mrs. Sau’s letter.
Cabinet, however, ordered a second Inquiry into the conduct of the suspended senior officials in relation to the claims raised in the letter.
Prior to the start of the second Inquiry, Sala resigned. As for Lilomaiava, the Inquiry found that he had failed to perform his duty in addressing the issues raised. The Inquiry recommended that his services be terminated.
For Mrs. Sau, the Inquiry asked Cabinet to direct the Ministry of Police to reinstate her.
Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Mrs. Sau said she is unsure about returning to the Force. She says she is employed at a relative’s company.
“I am really enjoying my work here where I have so much support in the success of my aunt’s business,” she says.
“In a way, I’m glad that the Inquiries have confirmed what I was trying to raise. But I believe there is still a lot that needs to change within the Police.
“These unprofessional, immoral and corrupt practises cannot be allowed to continue.”
The 49-year-old mother of five says there is more that needs to be revealed.
“When I found out about what was going on in there, I looked at those people in prison and I felt sorry for them,” she recalls.
“It’s true that they were prisoners but the role of a Police officer is not to add more reason for them to offend but to direct them in the right path.
“What I saw in Prison was that Police officers were encouraging prisoners to continue to offend and break the law.”
Asked where and how she found the courage to speak up, Mrs. Sau was circumspect.
“I kept telling myself that all Adeline Godinet can do is advice, help and show them the right way. But God will help me do the right thing. He sees and he knows everything.”
Does she have any regrets?
“No,” she said. “I would do it all over again if it helps to make positive changes, pave the way for other young people who will enter the Police Force.”
Lastly, she reminds that the being a Police Officer is a privileged position that should be treated with care, utmost respect and most all anyone who plans to become a Police officer must be a person of integrity.
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