14 Mar 2008

Two more officials charged in Samoa ministry corruption case

2:48 pm on 14 March 2008

The police investigation in Samoa into missing funds in the Ministry of Police and Prisons has now led to two accounts officers in the Ministry of Finance being charged with official corruption in relation to the case.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A police source says the officers are implicated because of an alleged breach of the Ministry of Finance's process of releasing cheques for payment of prisoners' rations.

The two accounts officers will appear in the District Court next week to answer the charges.

The principal accountant in the police ministry has been suspended to await the outcome of investigation.

Meanwhile the assistant police commissioner and spokesperson, Papalii Li'o, has revealed that 339 charges have been laid against Taylor Miti, who is an accountant in the police accounts division.

Papalii says the charges include 113 counts each of theft as a servant, forgery and falsifying accounts.