Police Questions DBAS Employee for Alleged Threatening Remarks

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The president of the Development Bank of American Samoa, Ruth Matagi Faatili, is not answering KHJ News questions about the bank’s interest freeze program for some members of the bank board, their relatives, employees, lawmakers and government officials.

After the DBAS statement that it was investigating the recent disclosure of customer information and will be taking appropriate actions, we asked among other things, whether the investigation was handled internally or by the Department of Public Safety.

When asked if DPS was handling any investigations concerning DBAS, Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele said they were asked to look into alleged threatening remarks made by a DBAS employee to other staff members.

KHJ News understands that the police opened a case and subsequently reviewed the employee’s Facebook account and the only threatening remarks found on his account were apparently directed at those who had called DBAS and threatened to burn down the building.

The callers were irate over reports concerning board members not having to pay interest on their loans or having their loans “writen off.”

The police eventually located and interviewed the employee who verified his comments were directed at those who had threatened to burn the building down and to hurt the employees.

The employee denied making any threats to any of his supervisors or co-workers even though they had a heated argument late that week.

The DBAS employee reportedly told police his supervisors and some co-workers accused him of leaking the DBAS ledger and loan information which was posted on social media,-something he emphatically denied.

Because there was no evidence or indication a crime had been committed, the case file was closed.

In answer to KHJ News question as to whether DPS is investigating the leak, Save said DPS was not asked.

In the latest development, KHJ News has learned that the employee whom police had questioned about threatening remarks has been suspended without pay for two weeks and he is seeking legal representation.

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