16 May 2003

Former Samoan auditor wins TI Integrity Award

4:38 am on 16 May 2003

Samoa's former auditor general, Sua Rimoni Ah Chong, has won a Transparency International Integrity Award for 2003 for his role in fighting illegal government activities in the 1990's.

Sua was nominated by the New Zealand branch of Transparency International which is the world's leading anti-corruption non-governmental organisation based in Berlin.

Su'a faced serious threats when he exposed financial crime at the highest level, and in the period between 1992 and 1995 he refused to authorise illegal payments to cabinet ministers.

When his report implicated nearly half the cabinet in irregularities, an inquiry was launched into Su'a's performance but not into the reported abuse.

The then government changed the constitution to oust Su'a.

He is still fighting a legal battle against his suspension and dismissal.