Assault Case Reported at Homeland Security

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The Department of Human Resources is awaiting a police report concerning an incident in which a contract employee allegedly made threatening remarks and attempted to assault a  senior employee of the Department of Homeland Security.

Deputy Director of Homeland Security, Jacinta Brown who is the alleged victim,told KHJ News she has met with DHR Director Lei Sonny Thompson  and he’s requesting statements from several employees who witnessed the alleged assault which occurred the week that the territory was awaiting Cyclone Amos.

The alleged perpetrator, retired US Army Major Malologa Lagai, was hired on contract last year as an administrator.

It’s alleged that he made threatening remarks to deputy director Brown at a meeting to discuss the arrival of the team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as Cyclone Amos was approaching.

Brown said she tried to correct Lagai  when he told her that he did not have to listen to her and she was not his boss.

Brown also claimed that Lagai stood up and walked towards her pointing his finger towards her and when she told him to stop he ignored her.

She said he was cussing and threatening her and she got scared that he was towering over her with his finger pointed at her face.

According to Brown, two male employees attending the meeting intervened and dragged the military retiree out of the room.

Director of Homeland Security, Utoalii Iuniasolua Savusa was not present at the meeting but has been briefed of the alleged incident.

Brown says she has recommended termination of Lagai  as she feels that violence should not be tolerated in the workplace.

Mr. Lagai was unavailable to give his side of the story as he ‘s currently off-island for medical check-ups.’

Deputy Directornof Human resources Eseneiaso Liu told KHJ news that DHR Director Le’i Sonny Thompson is calling a meeting with Homeland Security parties involved while also awaiting a police report of the incident.

It’s believed that Brown filed a complaint with the police after the alleged assault.

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