Samoa’s new Police Commissioner, Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo, wants to set up an autonomous body to handle complaints against members of the police force.
TV1Samoa quotes Auapa’au saying, the complaints are currently dealt with by the internal Police Professional Standards Tribunal which has been criticized by members of the public as being biased.
“There are always suspicions of police bias when investigating their own,” he said.
The 24-year veteran of the police force, Auapa’au was confirmed last week by Cabinet as the new head of the country’s constabulary, from seven applicants for the job.
His appointment comes almost a year after the resignation of the last Commissioner, Fuiavaiiliili Egon Keil in August 2021.
