Private Attorney David Vargas has been appointed as Independent Prosecutor to handle the case of the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua.
A woman who has been living with Fiu’s family since birth, has made allegations of a sexual nature against him.
The allegations came to the fore earlier this year when the woman and her husband were rounded up by immigration agents in an apparent attempt to send them to Samoa on the Lady Naomi.
An immigration officer processing passengers that day, upon learning that the woman was born here, and therefore could not be deported, contacted victims advocate Mrs Ipu Lefiti, and the couple’s forced departure was prevented.
The case has been with the Department of Public Safety for several months and many in the community were questioning if the case would ever make it out of DPS.
Earlier this month, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale was quoted by the Samoa News saying that his office has received the case of the Chief of Staff as well as that of House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale.
The Speaker’s matter pertains to a vehicle that was imported under his name, in which ammunition and a chemical with the ingredient THC that is found in marijuana was discovered.
Several follow up questions sent to the AG since the beginning of the month regarding both cases have not been answered.
Officials in the AG’s office have confirmed to Samoa News that David Vargas is appointed to handle the case involving the Chief of Staff.
The appointment needs to be approved by the High Court.
Under the law, an Independent Prosecutor is appointed in cases where there’s a possible conflict in having the AG’s Office prosecute a case involving certain public officials.
Officials such as the governor and lt. governor, a director, head of an office or agency, any appointed contract or career service official, or other public official; also a member of the legislature , a judge, or attorney or employee of the Attorney General’s Office.
