The year of manufacture for a taxi allegedly owned by suspended Land Transport Authority manager, Anoanoai Pepe Lafai, was changed from 2003 to 2006 as per her instructions.

This was the testimony of L.T.A IT officer Semo Siaosi during the trial of former and suspended Assistant Chief Executive Officers Mata’afa Sepelini and Anoanoa’i Pepe Lafai.

Mata’afa is charged with 24 charges including forgery and intent to obtain by deception while Anoanoa’i is facing six charges including theft. 

Siaosi was the fifth witness to take the stand before Justice Mata Keli Tuatagaloa in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. 

The witness informed the Court the IT division has full access to the Road Transport Administration System—which is the database containing all information on registered vehicles in Samoa—at the L.T.A. 

“In our line of work, we can update and amend details of a certain vehicle on the system. 

“In terms of changes made to details of a vehicle, we don’t change it unless we are instructed to do so, and in doing that we have to insert comments into a certain section outlining what change was made, who gave the instructions. 

“We can make changes such as VIN numbers, color, model and year for the vehicle that is the full access that we have onto the R.T.A.S.,” Siaosi said. 

He also informed the Court that there are two divisions within the L.T.A that make changes to the database—the road use management division that conducts inspection and the legal division. 

Siaosi said he made changes to the database allegedly based on the instruction of Anoanoa’i. 

“I was told to amend the year for the vehicle from 2003 to 2006 and this was per instruction from the legal counsel. 

“And this vehicle’s license plate is T337 and upon making the change, I informed another colleague as our principal officer was not present at the time,” he said. 

The witness further explained that upon informing the principal officer, he was told to note the “comments on who gave the instruction, the date and time onto the system.” 

The Court heard from Siaosi that the details of the said vehicle and the owner is Anoanoa’i Lafai.  

According to the police warrant Mata’afa allegedly produced a “false document” by altering the year of make of a vehicle (with the registration number T454) from 2000 to 2005, knowing it to be false but with the intent to make it appear genuine.

The offence allegedly occurred on February 19, 2018. Anoanoa’i is facing one charge of theft where she allegedly stole $400 belonging to the L.T.A. on or between March 1-31 2018.

The hearing continues.