28 Jun 2010

Five-year jail term for former American Samoa police officer

12:51 pm on 28 June 2010

A former American Samoa police officer, Jerry Sauni, has been sentenced to five years for his role in removing guns and other evidence from the police evidence room.

Sauni, who was the custodian of the evidence room at the time, has been convicted of embezzlement, two counts of tampering and possession of firearms.

Sauni says he takes full responsibility for his actions and makes no excuses for what he did.

The Chief Justice, Michael Kruse, told Sauni during sentencing that he was sad because he had known him to be one of the best police officers when he was in traffic.

The Chief Justice said the culture of corruption had infected one of the territory's finest officers.