A corrections officer, Laufau Moliga, has been charged with aiding the escape of a prisoner.
The government alleges that on September 25 of last year, the defendant drove inmate Sierra Isaia out of the Territorial Correctional Facility in his private vehicle while Isaia was serving time for felony convictions.
Court documents state that the Tafuna Substation received an anonymous phone call that day reporting that Isaia and another inmate, Sui Tago, were seen in Vaitogi and Iliili in a vehicle driven by someone wearing a police uniform.
An All Points bulletin was issued and police officers spotted the vehicle in front of a store in Nu’uuli and stopped it.
Officers identified the passengers as inmates Isaia and Tago, and the driver as Corrections Officer Moliga.
When Molioga was questioned, he claimed that he had requested permission from Assistant Warden Apoga Custodio for the two inmates to help with with a job at his home in Kokoland, and Custodio gave permission.
Bail for Moliga was originally set at $10,000, but was reduced to $2,000 after his initial appearance in District Court on Tuesday.
