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Fanene Morris Scanlan resigns from Retirement Bd

Chairman of the Retirement Board, Fanene Morris Scanlan has resigned from the American Samoa Government Employee Retirement Fund (ASGERF) board, and his resignation was sent by email to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga on August 5, 2015.

 

According to the email which was obtained by Samoa News, Fanene pointed out that his resignation is due to health issues and it’s effective August 12, 2015. He told the governor that he can no longer continue his service as a trustee.

 

Responding to Samoa News queries, the Governor’s Executive Assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira confirmed that “former Chairman Fanene Morris Scanlan has submitted his resignation to the Governor, and he accepted the letter of resignation.” 

 

Iu went on to say that the Governor regrets the resignation because he has the highest respect for High Chief Fanene Morris Scanlan.

 

In the meantime, the Commissioner of Public Safety, Save Liuato Tuitele has launched an investigation into alleged deeds of “misconduct and conflict of interest” by the Retirement Office Executive Director Luatua Filisouaiga Ta’afua.

 

Samoa News understands that the Police Commissioner is the lead investigator and is being assisted by a Police Sergeant and Senior Police Officer.

 

Last month, Fanene in his role as chairman of the Retirement Board made serious allegations against the ASGERF Executive Director, Luatua, alleging “questionable transactions.”

 

Questions were raised over the use of the Chairman’s signature rubber stamp for checks issued out of the Administrative Account without proper authorization and checks made out to the director personally for his travel advances,and on more recent findings payments made to unregistered businesses, Hardcore Cleaning and Star Co., for services to the Centennial Building. The payments to these vendors were in turn allegedly deposited into the Director’s personal checking account.

 

While Fanene was still chairman of the Retirement Board, the board solicited the services of Paragon Wealth Management to conduct a “full in-depth Investment Management Review” of the ASGERF which would involve two separate types of audits, according to a letter written by the Utah-based registered investment advisor company, Paragon Wealth Management, that was obtained by Samoa News.

 

The letter, which is a response to the Board’s ‘solicitation’ for their services, indicates that an audit of the fund’s performance due to its status dropping to 63.5% and an audit into the suspected misappropriation or fraud allegations is being offered.

 

Samoa News understands the Retirement Board has yet to vote on a new chairman to the post.