Samoa's suspended Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, is facing a total of 259 criminal charges.
Samoa's Police Commissioner Egon Keil Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Earlier this month charges related to a separate case against Fuiavailili, which had also led to him being suspended, were dropped, with the prosecution saying it had insufficient evidence.
He was suspended again just days later amid reports he was facing a range of criminal charges.
Now Fuiavailili has been charged with 120 offences of the illegal possession of firearms, eight counts of intimidation, six of threatening words, two of insulting words, and one each of attempt to procure murder, incite murder, and counsel murder.
Samoa Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, with family and supporters. Photo: Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The charges were the results of an inquiry into a complaint filed by a police officer holding the rank of corporal who was one of the officers involved in a drug raid at Faleatiu in August this year.
It is alleged the officer had been ordered by the police commissioner to shoot to kill a suspect.
Other gun incidents relate to the confiscation by police of a gun surrendered during a firearms amnesty last year.
Fuiavailili is due in the Supreme Court next Monday to answer the charges.
A view of Apia taken from outside police headquarters Photo: RNZI/ Sally Round
