Five correction officers at Tanumalala Prison have been suspended as the police investigate allegations that they had a hand in letting notorious prisoner Lauititi Tualima escape.

Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo confirmed that the investigations have just started and if the investigation suggests that the correctional officers were involved in letting Lauititi out of prison, charges will be laid and their services will be terminated.

Auapa'au said Lauititi was let out of his prison cell to participate in a rehabilitation programme and from thereon, it is alleged that some correctional officers at the prison have helped him escape.

He said the usual rehabilitation programme is now on hold as investigations have now begun on the prison break.

Tualima escaped from Tanumalala Prison at the end of January this year and was captured on 17 March near the Aele Primary School after being on the run for almost two months. He escaped around 7 pm raising questions about the involvement of correction officers.

There were two rental homes within the compound where Tualima was found two weeks ago. 

These rental homes are located behind the Aele Primary School rugby field and Samoa Observer witnessed that there were many bystanders at the scene when Tualima was handcuffed and arrested by police.

The prisoner was successfully captured by the police thanks to the assistance of the local community.

He added there was the possibility of charges against the residents of the rental property if they were proven to have been harbouring the prisoner.

Auapa'au said for the time being, no one has been charged for allegedly harbouring Lauititi as investigations are still continuing for the residents of the rental property at Aele.

Auapaau said while investigations are continuing for Tualima's escaping from Tanumalala Prison, he has been charged with escaping Tanumalala Prison and couldn't confirm when he will appear in court again for this new charge.

Lauititi has a history of burglary, theft, break-in and entering, robbery, rape, grievous bodily harm and escaping from prison.

Lauititi Tualima, now 32, was convicted of rape for an incident which involved him tying up an Australian tourist and raping her in front of her husband at the Lupe Sina Tree Resort in 2015. He was only 23 at the time.