SAMOA – A no-confidence petition against the suspended Samoa Police Commissioner accuses Fuiavailili Egon Keil of breaching the law .

The petition, signed by close to 40 commissioned officers including the executive body of the Ministry of Police, says it has evidence to support their call for a commission of inquiry.

It raises allegations of the registration of two unlawful firearms by the commissioner under the name of the ministry without the required authority of the Minister of Police.

The petition also alleges the commissioner possessed an unlawful weapon and ordered an officer to kill a person.

It says the officers have no confidence in the commissioner because of his management style and administration.

According to the petition, the police commissioner also had no knowledge about local laws or the Samoa constitution.

The officers raised concerns surrounding his original appointment, saying the rank he held at the Los Angeles Police Department did not meet the necessary criteria.

Keil is suspended from duties while facing four criminal charges, including unlawful detaining a person, disorderly conduct in a public place, perjury, and making a false statement.

The Acting Police Commissioner, Samoa Mulinuu Mulinuu told the Samoa Observer he was unaware of the petition that has reportedly been handed to the Minister of Police.

Contacted for a comment by the Samoa Observer, Acting Commissioner Samoa denied any knowledge of it.

“I cannot confirm that,” he said. “I’m not aware of it.”

The petition has reportedly been presented to the Minister of Police, Sala Fata Pinati, last week.

Attempts to get a comment from the minister have been unsuccessful.

On another matter, the acting police commissioner also dismissed claims that another assistant police commissioner has been suspended.

“Those reports are not true,” Samoa reiterated. “Only cabinet can approve a suspension but we haven’t received a direct order from cabinet.”

Asked if it’s true that the assistant commissioner in question was under investigation in relation to an alleged incident involving a female police officer, Samoa declined to comment.

“I cannot answer that,” he said. “I can only say that he is not suspended.”

When the assistant commissioner in question was asked for a comment, he denied the allegation.

“No one has asked me about anything,” he said.

- Samoa Observer