A more than $60,000 payout for the former Executive Director, a $9,000 advance per diem each time board members travel off island and two new car purchases for the new executive director and deputy of the Retirement Fund Office are the last straw for an immediate relative of a board member.
The relative, a career service employee of ASG and a member of the Retirement Fund, has stepped forward to “spill the beans” as it were, on the uncontrolled spending by the Board of Directors and the Retirement Fund Office whose fiduciary responsibility it to protect the interests of members like her.
The woman says she’s speaking out not just for herself but other members of the Fund who have no input in what’s going on.
The woman said she only discovered recently that everytime a board member goes off island, they are issued a $9,000 advance check to pay for their airfare, accommodations and perdiem.
And this is regardless of the destination, and length of the official business necessitating the travel.
The woman said her relative who’s a board member confirmed this.
According to a reliable source who’s familiar with the Retirement Fund operation, the board members are supposed to return any leftover funds after their travels but this never happens, and expense reports are not required, unlike ASG and federally funded trips.
Efforts to get a comment from Chairman of the Board Vaanatiu Iafeta Toafala were unsuccessful.
KHJ News checked with a former member of the Retirement Fund Board if this was the practice during their time.
The individual said the amount of the check issued to pay for off island trips is dependent on where the official business is held, and the duration of a meeting, or training being attended.
The former Board member was firm that there was no standard travel advance of $9,000.
Another payout that riled up the relative of the Retirement Fund Board member is the one reported by Samoa News yesterday for the fired former Executive Director Luatua Filisouaiga Taafua.
The paper, quoting sources, says the final payout for Luatua’s unused leave was $100,000.
Those knowledgeable with the matter tell KHJ News that Luatua’s check stub recorded total leave earnings equivalent to the $100,000 figure but that the final check issued him was negotiated down to $60,000 and the chairman of the Board Vaanatiu approved the final payment.
The relative of the Retirement Fund Board member who shared her concerns with KHJ News said the chairman should have held the payout until after Luatua’s case has been adjudicated.
Because, she said, if the allegations against him are proven, he should pay back any funds that were misappropriated.
The woman said she is appalled at the way the Retirement Fund Board chairman has been protecting the former executive director instead of protecting the Retirement Fund so that when she retirees she will receive a retirement check.
It’s been more than three weeks since the Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele forwarded the report of the police investigation of Luatua to the Attorney General’s Office, with a recommendation for criminal prosecution.
No case has yet been filed. But Luatua has petitioned the Administrative Law Judge for reinstatement.
He alleges that he was denied an opportunity to respond to the allegations that led to his suspension and eventual removal.
Luatua was paid his executive director salary during the whole five months he was suspended.
The board member’s relative was also unhappy about the purchase of two new 4-runners by the Retirement Fund Office .
The vehicles are used by the new Executive Director of the Retirement Fund Iaulualo Faafetai Talia and Deputy Director Caroline Wendt.
KHJ News has received confirmation that the vehicles were purchased before the new head of the Retirement Fund Office, Iauluialo, came on board.
Other than the chairman the other members of the Retirement Fund Board are vice chairman Lei Sonny Thompson, Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a, Maaelopa Bob Tuiasosopo, Beaver Ho Ching, Aloma Langford and Tony Togiai.
