Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, expects Cabinet to make a decision on the Commission of Inquiry Report into allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the Ministry of Police and Prisons this week.
Speakingtothelocalmediaupon his return from medical treatment in New Zealand on Thursday, the Prime Minister said Cabinet would discuss the report again this week.
Tuilaepa declined to speculate on what the outcome of the discussion could be except to say that Cabinet would consider the report thoroughly before its makes a final decision.
The report from the Commission, headed by Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma, was submitted to the Prime Minister at the end of February.
Launched last year, the inquiry titled “Tafaigata Prisons – investigating the allegations regarding the mismanagement and misadministration of Tafaigata Prisons and other related issues” looked at a number of issues at the prison.
Among them were alleged loans between prisoners and police officers and sexual misconduct between them.
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At the beginning of the Inquiry, Police Commissioner, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo, and Assistant Police Commissioner, Sala Seaga Uili, were suspended. According to Cabinet at the time, the suspension was to avoid any potential for influence in the course of investigation.
The pair remains suspended on full pay. Meanwhile, Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, has said that the Commission’s report could only be viewed by the public once Cabinet approves its release for publication.
Aumua confirmed that the report was submitted to Cabinet on February 28, 2014 in accordance with the extension granted to the Commission of Inquiry by Cabinet on December 24, 2013.
“Cabinet is presently considering the report,” he said.
“The Ombudsman will only release the report once approval is given by Cabinet.
“The Commission was appointed by the Head of State to report to Cabinet and to no one else, therefore until that approval from CabinetisgiventotheOmbudsman, he will not release the report.
“Please note that it is an offence to publish the report before it has been released by Cabinet for publication: section 15(2) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1964.”
Asked why the report was sent to his office, the Attorney General said it was not sent to his office.
“Two lawyers from my Office assisted the Commission of Inquiry as part of their roles as Counsels assisting was to advise the Commission on legal issues,” he said.
“The Commissioners drafted the report.”
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