A trial for two police officers accused of an unauthorised investigation before the Police Tribunal was completed last week and is now in the hands of the tribunal panel.

This was confirmed by the Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo in an interview with this newspaper who confirmed that the tribunal trial was completed on Friday.

"The tribunal was completed on Friday and is now in the hands of the tribunal panel and the lawyers until we can get a new update on how it went," he said.

The Police Tribunal commenced last Tuesday as a closed-door tribunal at the Police Traffic Division at Matautu attended by the police officers and their family members. 

Inspector Lio Faataumalama faces five disciplinary charges pursuant to the Police Service Act while Corporal Henifa Bryce faces two charges. 

Both police officers were suspended in November following the filing of the charges against them. They have denied the allegations.

The disciplinary charges stem from a private investigation alleged to be unauthorised and conducted by the officers into the death of teenager Tuuau Faasavalu upon instructions from a Cabinet Minister. 

Lio was represented by a Kings Counsel (KC), Phillip Morgan and lawyer Tanya Toailoa acted for Ms. Bryce. 

The prosecutor is lawyer Magele Leone Mailo-Sua. 

Deputy Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga is chairing the tribunal alongside two other members. 

The matter was called on Monday and was adjourned to resume on Tuesday to allow time for Lio’s lawyer to go through the trial documents. 

Lio is also facing criminal charges with four other co-defendants connected to allegations of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice. 

Regarding the criminal case pending in the District Court, Inspector Lio pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice and one joint charge of conspiracy to commit an offence. 

Auapaau in a previous interview had maintained the police officers were not part of the investigation team that was assigned to investigate the unsolved hit and run case. 

He claimed an assigned team was already investigating the hit-and-run at Vaitele-fou at the time.  

He added that carrying out their private investigation without authorisation was in breach of processes for the Ministry of Police that they should adhere to. 

The suspended Inspector argued all he did was obtain statements as instructed by the Cabinet Minister and passed it on to their lawyer who advised him to hand it over to the Police Commissioner.

The police have maintained the evidence provided by the witnesses who made allegations about the hit and run case could not be verified.