“I expect the investigation to be concluded by the end of the week after which the report will be written in the following week,”
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A Commission of Inquiry investigating whether suspended Police Commissioner, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo, and his Assistant, Sala Seaga Uili, performed their functions satisfactorily, has given them options.
The first option is to resign from their positions at the Force.
The second is to respond to the allegations.
Should they decide on the second option, the Commission will then proceed with the Inquiry.
The options were offered to Lilomaiava and Sala by the Ombudsman and the Chairman of the Inquiry, Maiava Iulai Toma, at the beginning of a fresh investigation, which began last week.
Other members of the Inquiry include Gatoloa’i Tili Afamasaga and Su’a Tanielu Su’a. They are assisted by counsels, Sefo Ainu’u and Sine Lafaiali’i- Koria.
All of them were members who conducted the Commission of Inquiry last year into allegations of police corruption focusing on Tafa’igata Prison.
The present investigation is the next phase of inquiry under the Police Act, which will address the capacity of the incumbents to perform their duties.
Lilomaiava and the former Tafa’igata prison head, Sala have been accused of misusing power at the prison.
They have been on suspension with full pay since August last year.
The new investigation is to determine whether the officers' conduct and performance has breached any of their duties under the Police Act and affected the confidence of the community.
“I expect the investigation to be concluded by the end of the week after which the report will be written in the following week,” Maiava told the Samoa Observer last week.
The initial Commission of Inquiry report, which was submitted to Cabinet in February this year, is yet to be released to the public although the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielagaoi commented on the findings at the time.
“The 75 page report lucidly outlines several management and administration problems at the Ministry (Police and Prisons), validates reports of unfavourable conditions, unflattering incidents and incongruous behaviour at the country’s main prison,” Tuilaepa said earlier this year.
The Prime Minister also pointed out that the report was particularly scathing about the “calibre” and “integrity” of police officers, in relation to claims of inappropriate relationships at the prison.
As a result, Tuilaepa said the Commission has called for the enforcement of policies to govern the relationship among police officers as well as that between police and prisoners.
Respect, he said, should always be paramount, reminding that although prisoners are “sinners that have broken the law, we must never forget that they too, are people created in the image of God, and so God lives in them also.”
Tuilaepa also said the Commission’s report highlights that many problems within the Ministry of Police and Prisons were caused by poor performance, especially by the management.
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