The Deputy Director of the Department of Search and Rescue, Mosese Lomu, has been granted a pardon by Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula.
This was revealed by Director of Human Resources Tiaoalii Dr. Asenati Saau-Umi during a Senate hearing on salary increases for DPS on Tuesday.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean asked the DHR Director how a person convicted of a felony can serve as a deputy director of a government department.
Dr. Saau-Umi replied that the deputy director has been pardoned by the Governor.
Tuaolo followed up if the pardon was by the present Governor, the answer was affirmative.
In January of 2020, Lomu was sentenced to 28 months in prison after being convicted of criminal fraud for covering up the escape of an inmate in 2018. While the inmate, Manu Lefatia, was out, he shot another man in Leone.
At the time, Lomu was the Watch Commander at the Territorial Correctional Facility. He became Deputy Director of he Department of Search and Rescue last year.
