The Office of the Attorney General has delegated its powers to a private attorney to prosecute the case of a senior Police Officer accused in the case of the death of a 20-year-old man from Vaiusu. 

Sergeant Khamtahn Stanley was placed under suspension in November last year following an alleged beating that led to the death of 20-year-old Penitito Toma. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, said his office has handed over Stanley's file to lawyer Taulapapa Brenda Heather – Latu. 

“It’s being fully delegated to her as the private prosecutor,” said Lemalu. 

“Our team has been working with him [Stanley] for the last five years and that is why its been delegated [to private prosecutor]. 

“At the moment we are waiting for an update from her.” 

The deceased 20-year-old is alleged to have entered the home of the suspended officer in Vaiusu. 

It was alleged that the young man was intoxicated and was allegedly beaten up for entering Stanley’s family home. 

The suspended officer was previously decorated for bravery for his role in a multinational peacekeeping force in South Sudan in 2014, at which time he retained the rank of Sergeant.