14 Aug 2007

Suspension of former health CEO in Samoa was wrong

1:36 pm on 14 August 2007

A report by Samoa's Ombudsman has found that Cabinet's decision to suspend Dr Eti Enosa as the CEO of the Health Ministry in 2004 was wrong.

Maiava Iulai Toma's office investigated the suspension following a complaint by Dr Enosa that he had been unfairly suspended.

The Ministry of Finance's investigation unit report alleged Dr Enosa was at the centre of allegations of serious wrongdoing and misappropriation of aid funds.

However, the Ombudsman's report published by the Sunday Samoan newspaper condemned the decision.

Maiava said two of the Treasury's reports highlighted a conflict of interest by Dr Enosa while he was head of the Health Ministry.

But the Ombudsman's report concluded that the conflict of interest suggested in the Treasury reports was based on wrong facts.

The police investigations into the alleged abuse and misappropriation of funds by the former CEO did not find any evidence to prove it.