Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has told media in Samoa that two police officers have been suspended for allegedly leaking information about drug raids to suspected criminals.
The Samoa Observer newspaper has identified Inspector Nanai Vani Vai, who was the bodyguard of former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, as one of the suspended police officers and is now under investigation.
Nanai is also the Second in Command of the Tactical Operation Squad (TOS).
Nanai’s wife, journalist Lilomaiava Maina Misa posted on her FaceBook page yesterday that her husband was suspended from the Ministry of Police due to allegations of leaking a search warrant to drug dealers. She added that he accepts his suspension while investigations are conducted by the Professional Standard Unit.
Nanai has been on the Samoa police force for 32 years.
PM La’aulialemalietoa said the suspended officers will be revealed next week.
He added that he would direct the police to name and shame the police officers as is being done with drug suspects.
Photo: Nanai Vani Vai/Mermada Pacific
