Samoa’s Police Superintendent Taito Sefo Hunt who has been in charge of the MV Nafanua II patrol boat, was suspended last Thursday in connection with the recent grounding of the $30 million vessel at the channel into Salelologa wharf, Savai’i.
According to Samoa Observer, Acting Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti advised ministry staff of the suspension of Superintendent Hunt effective Thursday August 26.
The vessel, a gift from the Australian Government, ran aground while transporting police reinforcement to help police a Human Rights Protection Party island wide vehicle rally.
The protest rally was to highlight alleged biased court decisions which HRPP say has violated the powers of the Constitution and the Head of State.
The newspaper says a separate inquiry is also being carried out into what led to the grounding.
The Australian government has deployed a salvage team expected to arrive in Apia to remove the MV Nafanua II from the reef and prepare to tow it back to Australia for repairs.
The Ministry of Transport that there was no oil spill or pollution from the grounding since all the oil was pumped out soon after the grounding.
Photo:Samoa Observer
