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Acting mgr of DPW survey division warned that perjury is a crime

Sione Amosa
Senate president does not mince words during the SSIC hearing
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate President, Tuaolo Manaia Fruean cautioned the acting manager of Survey Division of the Department of Public Works that “perjury” is criminal conduct.

Tuaolo made the comments during the second part of the Senate Select Investigative Committee (SSIC) hearing when Sione Amosa appeared before the Senate for the second time pertaining to the survey of the 400+ acres of Nu’u fou land.

Amosa was sworn in prior to testifying.

During his testimony, the acting manager said he was not part of surveying the land in question. However he informed the committee that Mapesone Laulu, who is the manager of their division is currently off island.

Amosa then clarified there are reports that Laulu is “evading” the issue, however that’s not true, he’s currently overseas seeking medical treatment.

He informed the Senators that Laulu was the only one working from their department on this project. “I can attest to that, as I am the one that dropped him off in front of the Manumalo School, where there was a Paramount flat bed waiting to take [Laulu] and other men.”

He said the survey was for four days. “They climbed from the mountains behind Malaeimi and due to the bad weather they came back the next day, but they were picked up by a boat around Fagasa, heading to Sika.”

 Togiola asked the witness of his understanding as to where the survey pins are located looking at the survey map.

Amosa explained that on the map, it says there are corners on the ridge that have not been pinned during the survey. The acting manager also provided the report of the survey in question, which was prepared by Laulu and was addressed to Papalii Laulii Alofa, one of the three men attempting to register the Nu’u fou land as individually owned.

The report dated February 16, 2022 was read out loud by Amosa during the hearing.

Titled,  the survey of Land claimed as “Virgin Bush” situated North of Malaeimi Valley, West of Fagasa village, and East of Aasu Village.

It says their team of surveyors “under estimated the rough country, steep terrain especially the north side of the Malaeimi ridge and narrow plateaus on the ridge, which is about the width of a one lane road in some cases the width of the ridge was only a foot.

 “It is great to be involved in courageous task like this which takes more courage and inspirations to push us to confront and to fulfill what is given to accomplish.

 “Even though we were facing many difficulties and dangerous obstacles like camping in the nights in tough weather in strong winds, heavy rains with lightning and thunders, working through the high and low tides, pacing your way on slippery rocks so you won’t fall into the deep ocean, counting the waves before you cross the sea to reach another rock to continue walking to another place to put in another survey marker ands most of all is trying to climb and descend steep terrain of rough country with a load on your back etc.”

Laulu in his report says that “despite all dangerous [sic] and difficulties they faced and experienced during with [sic] this project,” he’s thankful to the Lord for guiding and protecting his team “from sick [sic], serious injured [sic], drifted [sic] out in the sea and most of all death, which reminded me that everything we want, everything we do, everything we desired.

 “He is beyond all our comprehensions and expectations.

 “Thank You Lord,” said Laulu.

Adding that he never had reconnaissanced to the land called “Virgin Bush” and he cited five main points from the survey at hand.

 “1. Look at the drawing I prepared for this survey. There is a concrete wall about 8 ft. X 6 ft. And 3 ft. High on the coast line surrounding a Tree.

 “2.There are more coconut trees about 40 years old growing in the area of Sita Bay.

 “3. Further towards Aasu, I saw few young coconut trees about 10 years old on top of a lower ridge.

 “4. Furthermore to Aasu village, I saw more coconut trees about 40 years old on the slope side to the west of a higher ridge.

 “5. At the same area of section 4, I saw there was no virgin bush but big tree distancing from another big tree with lower vegetation in between.

These features like the concrete wall, coconut trees and low vegetation indicated there were people [who] occupied these lands not very long ago,” concluded Laulu.

Togiola then questioned the label “virgin bush” given to the land in question and yet it’s apparent there were people that occupied the land in question.

 “So [Laulu] concluded there were people that occupied these land?” Togiola asked and Amosa confirmed that is true.

Furthermore Togiola asked if the label “virgin bush” was given by the three men who are trying to register the land and it was never being occupied or claimed by anyone — is that incorrect?

Amosa said it in his understanding that is incorrect.

President of the Senate then questioned Amosa’s testimonies in an earlier hearing where he said that he was not involved in any manner with this project.

The acting manager said he was not part of any negotiations of this project.

 “I was only [made] aware about most of the issues that had surfaced when I was subpoenaed, then I questioned my manager that conducted this project,” said Amosa.

But Tuaolo repeated his question to Amosa, “what do you mean, you had no involvement in this project, what do you mean?

The witness reiterated, he was not involved in the project.

Tauolo urged the SSIC Chairman to find out the accuracy of the comments made by the acting manger, as he mentioned dropping off Laulu and some men at Malaeimi.

 “Is one of the six men your son?” Tuaolo asked the witness.

 “For your information Laulu cannot use the theodolite he has bad eyes and asked me for assistance, I told my son who knows how to use the theodolite to assist them in this project, but other than that, I am not involved in any way in terms of negotiating or how much money was involved, I don’t understand any of that,” said Amosa.

Tuaolo intervened that he was not asking about any money.

“I am following up on what you said before the Senate.

Why didn’t you tell the Senators one of your children was involved?” asked Tuaolo.

The Senate President then cautioned the acting manager that he can be charged for perjury when he lies, given he has already been sworn in to testify to tell the truth.

 “Why have you lied to the Senators?” asked Tuaolo.

Amosa apologized and noted that his children are young and “don’t really understand the gravity of the project they were involved in,” he said.

The Senate President fired back “and what is that, is that not involvement?” The witness did not respond to the Senate President’s question.