29 Mar 2019

Samoa Justice Ministry CEO and his assistant suspended

11:33 am on 29 March 2019

Samoa's Ministry of Justice and Courts administration, chief executive officer and an assistant executive officer, who is a senior registrar, have been suspended.

Papalii John Taimalelagi Afele

Papalii John Taimalelagi Afele Photo: RNZ Pacific /Tipi Autagavaia

The CEO, Papalii John Taimalelagi Afele and Ve'atauia Fa'atasi Pule'iata, are under investigation by the Public Service Commission for breach of duties and misconduct.

The chief executive is being investigated for the alleged removal of lands and titles court files from the main office while his assistant is implicated in the alleged misuse of a government vehicle for his family business.

Meanwhile, an assistant chief executive of the same government ministry has been sacked after an investigation by the commission and the Ministry of Finance into the alleged misappropriation of public funds.