Police officer Tuluiga Richard Salanoa felt sorry for inmate Manu Lefatia so he let him out for an hour to see his girlfriend.
As we reported yesterday, Salanoa is charged with permitting escape and concealing of an offense, both Class D felonies which carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $5,000 or both.
According to the government’s case, Salanoa allegedly permitted Manu Lefatia to walk out of the holding cell in Fagatogo earlier this month to visit his girlfriend for an hour.
The deed was discovered when Lefatia was late from his evening escape.
The government says they have eyewitness testimonies of two other inmates held at the holding cells in Fagatogo at the time Salanoa allowed Lefatia to walk out.
Police investigations are continuing and it’s suspected that two other officers may be charged.
During interrogation, Salanoa allegedly admitted that on March 3 at about 9 pm, Lefatia asked permission to see his girlfriend in Fagatogo.
Salanoa said that out of kindness, he agreed to let the inmate go but told him he had to be back at 10 pm, which was when Salanoa’s shift would finish.
The government alleges that during the morning briefing session, Salanoa walked over to the DPS central station with temporary holding cells keys and log book in hand and announced that all the inmates at the THC are secure and are all sleeping.
He then offered to take on the next shift.
When a fellow officer told him to go get some rest as he had worked two straight shifts, Salanoa insisted he’ll work the next one.
When the three officers started walking towards the holding cells, Salanoa turned around and headed back to the central station.
The other officer continued and found two inmates sleeping but Lefatia was missing.
After senior officers were advised of the missing inmate, other officers started looking for him and found Lefatia trying to make his way back in to the holding cells.
The investigation that followed revealed the officer was facing financial difficulties, which led him to take bribes from the likes of inmate Lefatia.
Salanoa also told of how he was disillusioned with the treatment being dished out by Captain in Charge Pou Supapo, who he said often berated them in public.
He said on one such occasion, Supapo even told his mother Lt. Arieta Salanoa off, in front of him and other officers.
Lt. Salanoa, the defendant’s mother, was in charge durnig the night shift when Officer Salanoa let Lefatia out to see his girlfriend.
Inmate Lefatia is also charged with escape from confinement and bribery.
