The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is calling in the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Institutions John Marsh and Treasurer Malemo tausaga to explain the transfer of $4 million to an account with Wells Fargo Bank.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean brought up the subject during today’s Senate session asking the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Senator Utu Sila Poasa, if the news regarding the transfer is true.
KHJ News reported earlier this week that the $4 million was ASG subsidy money for the LBJ Hospital. It was when LBJ inquired about its subsidy payment that Treasury only became aware of the transfer.
Treasurer Malemo Tausaga said they are investigating what happened and said at this stage it’s too early to even suggest that this was the work of a hacker.
The money was transferred from an ASG bank account with the Territorial Bank of American Samoa to a Wells Fargo Bank account. But LBJ doesn’t have an account with Wells Fargo. Its account is with First Hawaiian Bank.
Meanwhile, Director of Homeland Security Samana Semo Veavea says he is writing to the Treasurer to inform him that DHS will investigate the transfer.
He said it’s not appropriate for Treasury to do its own investigation into this matter, and he feels its within Homeland Security’s authority to handle the probe.
