12 prison and correction officers in Samoa have been suspended while an internal investigation is being carried out into allegations of serious breaches of duties at Tafaigata prison.
The commissioner of the Ministry of Prisons and Correction service, Taitosaua Edward Winterstein, has declined to comment.
But our correspondent in Apia says he understands the suspended officers including a senior one, are implicated in a police investigation into the unlawful sale of rental cars by a couple currently in police custody.
He says inmates escaping are among reasons for the suspension.
