The government has filed a new case against the former Executive Director of the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund Filisouaiga Ta’afua alleging theft and embezzlement of ASGERF monies through a scheme in which the defendant authorized payments to fictitious companies to provide services for the Centennial Building.
Ta’afua faces 14 charges of stealing and 14 charges of embezzlement.
Court documents say that an audit by an off island agency that was retained by the Retirement Fund Board of Directors determined that the defendant was involved in certain misconduct and misappropriation of assets from Fiscal Year 2013-FY2015.
The allegations are that while he was head of ASGERF he created fictitious companies that were issued checks by the ASGERF for various janitorial, moving and elevator services that were then deposited in his personal bank account or cashed with the defendant receiving all or part of the funds.
Its alleged that Ta’afua used the rubber signature stamp of the chairman of the board, the late Fanene Scanlan on several checks without the knowledge or approval of Scanlan.
He is also accused of issuing himself additional payroll checks that were not authorized by the board and created and received unauthorized personal loans from the Fund administrative assistant.
The fictitious companies were Hardcore Cleaning, Star Company and Filiga Fiaoa/Filiga’s Electric.
The amount of the invoice payments made to the companies was $14,182.
All checks were signed by the defendant and have the rubber stamp signature of Scanlan to satisfy the two signature Retirement Fund policy.
Filisouaiga was first charged in 2016 however in February 2019, Acting Associate Justice Elvis Patea granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case without prejudice. According to the new filing, the statute of limnitation has not yet expired.
Filisouaiga made his initial appearance in District Court today and is represented by private attorney Marcellus Uiagalelei.
