Charges against Police Commissioner withdrawn

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 12 November 2016, 12:00AM

Suspended Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil is a free man.

It follows a decision made in the Supreme Court yesterday to withdraw and dismiss all the charges against him due to insufficient evidence.

Fuiava had faced charges including unlawful detaining of a person, disorderly conduct in a public place, perjury and making a false statement in relation to the wrongful arrest of a member of the public at the Fugalei Market last year.

Justice Lesatele Rapi Va’ai presided.

A Prosecutor hired by the Office of the Attorney General from New Zealand, Paul Dacre QC, informed the Court that there was not enough evidence to proceed with the charges against the Commissioner.

Justice Lesatele granted the application to withdraw and dismissed the charges.

Scenes of joy and jubilation erupted outside the Court when the decision was made.

Speaking to the Weekend Observer, Fuiavailili was a relieved man.

“I always knew in my heart that if you do the right thing and you stick to your principles and you do what you are suppose to do you will be ok in the long run,” he said.

“This is the case it is today.”

Fuiava thanked his family, his parents and the people of Samoa, the government for their patience.

Fuiavailili’s father, Mapusua Rudolf Keil, was emotional and shared his excitement about the decision from the court. 

“This is finally over now that my son was speaking the truth,” he said. 

Fuiavailili was suspended in August this year.

"I tell you I don't hold a grudge, I just want to get back in there and do what I've been doing within the confines of the law in doing something that will make us all proud of the Samoan police.

"Not my rules, not my laws, I'm just implementing what should have been done a long time ago, and there's a few, not the whole organisation, are resistant to that change and I'm holding them accountable to what they're supposed to do in the first place.” 

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 12 November 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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