The Director of Homeland Security, Samana Semo Ve’ave’a, handed in his resignation to Governor Lolo Moliga yesterday.
This followed an incident that happened yesterday morning at the AP Lutali Executive Office Building.
Information received by KHJ News from two people who witnessed what happened said Samana and Liu had attended a meeting in the Governor’s Office.
After the meeting as Liu was making her way to her second floor office, Samana approached her and in a loud voice questioned her about action that Liu initiated concerning a Homeland Security employee.
He had in his hand a letter purported to be from the Human Resources director ordering the suspension of Homeland Security employee Lisa Tuato’o.
Tuato’o is the Homeland Security employee under investigation for the alleged use of a department computer to produce political campaign material.
Sources tell KHJ News the Homeland Security Director was not made aware of the confiscation of Tuato’o’s computer hard drive before hand. There was no discussion with him about her suspension.
According to the witnesses, Samana tore up the letter of suspension and threw it in the Human Resources Director’s face, the torn pieces of paper raining down to the bottom floor.
Samana was heard swearing and told the Human Resources Director in Samoan, “You’ll see what I’m going to do to you and your dog,” an apparent reference to Deputy Director of Human Resources James Faumuina.
Witnesses said that Liu was visibly shaken and didn’t say a word during the encounter.
Within a few hours after the incident, Samana submitted his letter of resignation.
