14 Aug 2007

Samoa Games chief rejects claims of cover up over death of Chinese worker

3:13 pm on 14 August 2007

The South Pacific Games chief executive officer, Fonoti Manogiamanu Etuale, is confident the police have thoroughly investigated an incident which had caused the death of a Chinese man during the construction of a sporting venue Apia Park stadium.

The CEO is responding to claims by a New Zealand based Samoan lawyer, Leulua'ialii Olinda Woodroffe, who alleged that somebody was trying to cover up the incident.

The lawyer says she has been hired by the Chinese building company, The Qindao Construction Group Ltd, to investigate the death of the worker, and two others who were injured in the same incident, in February.

But Fonoti says the lawyer, according to the construction company's general manager, Hai Wang, was hired to assist in recovering an insurance claim.

This is for the cost of the damaged beam which was being moved during the normal course of the works and consequently caused the death of the Chinese building engineer.

The SPG boss says there has been no cover up of the death of the Chinese worker.