Victims Advocate, Ipu Avegalio Lefiti is calling on the House of Representatives for assistance, regarding a complaint filed with the Department of Public Safety to investigate allegations against Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s Chief of Staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua. In a letter addressed to specific House chairs, calling for a hearing “on Public Safety Commissioner”, Avegalio Lefiti claims there is “a deliberate attempt to stall or conceal this case” by the police, due to Fiu’s position and asks, “What is the Commissioner’s reason [for] not forwarding the file to the Attorney General’s office?”

Police commissioner, Le’i Sonny Thompson has responded characterizing the Victims Advocate’s allegation as false.

The advocate’s letter, dated April 27, 2017, is addressed to Rep. Toeaina Faufano Autele, Chairman of House Legal Affairs/Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, Rep. Manumaua Wayne Wilson.

She signs it as “Victims Advocate Against Domestic & Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking”.

According to Mrs. Avegalio Lefiti, a case was filed with the Department of Public Safety, Criminal Investigation Division on December 12, 2016 “against Mr. Fiu J. Saelua, Governor Lolo's Chief of Staff for sexual assault and domestic abuse.”

In her letter she points out that, “after numerous follow ups and visits to the CID office, I feel there is a deliberate attempt to stall or conceal this case. It concerns me more because this high profile individual exercises tremendous amount of power, authority and influence in the American Samoa Government, the church and community.

“Power to reach into the Immigration Office and deploy agents to kidnap and attempt to illegally forcibly deport the victim and her husband back to Western Samoa,” she wrote.

Mrs. Avegalio Lefiti believes this is “the same power that is muzzling and diminishing the [Police] Commissioner in rendering his office mute.”

She’s also visited the Attorney General’s office several times to no avail, she writes, and asks, “What is the Commissioner’s reason [for] not forwarding the file to the Attorney General’s office?”

The Victims Advocate goes on to say that Deputy Commissioner, Ta’ase Sagapolutele has distanced himself from this case: and that on April 7, 2017 CID Supervisor Pou Supapo assured her that the investigation has been completed and forwarded to the Commissioner. However she writes, “April 27, 2017, the file has not been sent to the Records room for release.”

Mrs. Avegalio Lefiti, appealing to the House committee chairs for help on the issue says, “We are grateful that there is a higher level of authority over the Governor’s Cabinet members, who choose to ignore victims of violence, and perpetrate the behavior.”

“I am ashamed that I must reach so high into the Fono chambers to seek assistance from the 'Fathers of our Territory',” she writes. “As you are aware this is a level our simple people, your children, sons and daughters who are being victimized, fear to encroach upon.”

Mrs. Avegalio Lefiti concludes, “All we ask, is for the status of this case and [for it] to be released to the Attorney General's Office. Thus allowing this victim, fair due process and for her voice to be heard.”

POLICE COMMISSIONER’S RESPONSE

Reached by phone yesterday for comment on the issue, Police Commissioner Le’i told Samoa News that he has not heard of the letter, or of its call to subpoena him for a House hearing concerning the Fiu case.

Le’i said of the case, it was one that began with his predecessor, Save Liuato Tuitele, and any delay to finish the investigation and forward a written report to the Attorney General’s Office was during Save’s tenure.

During the telephone interview, Le’i said that thorough investigations take time, and they are wrapping this one up.

He said when the matter was brought to his attention, he instructed the CID to follow through with their investigation; and, he was recently told what was left to finalize the investigation was for the Chief of Staff to be interviewed. However, Le’i said, when CID officers approached Fiu for an interview, he told them he had retained an attorney.

Le’i said he then instructed CID to wrap it up. He told Samoa News that as of yesterday, CID said it would be ready — final report written and signed off by Deputy Commissioner Sagapolutele — this Friday and be sent to the AG’s office for disposition.

Efforts to get comments from the House committee chairs were unsuccessful as of press time, so it is unknown if or when a hearing will be scheduled.