‘Where did the money go’

APAI – Samoa police have rejected a claim that police officers who arrested a man for theft several years ago took a large sum of money that was in his bag.

The claim is being made by 50-year-old Sione Ta‘ateo, who was jailed for three years over the theft of $860,000 from the Samoa National Provident Fund’s Pension scheme office in 2008.

In a belated attempt to clear his name, Ta‘ateo has expressed his disappointment at claims that he had spent the money.

“This is the only reason why I’m speaking up now,” he said. “I understand that I’m a criminal in the eyes of people but I think even a criminal has a right to the truth.”

According to Ta‘ateo, back in 2008, a Provident Fund employee handed him the keys and told him where the money was.

“All I took with me that night was $30,000,” he said. “When the police arrested me, I had already spent $5000 and the rest was still in my bag.”

Ta’ateo said he was arrested, locked up in a police cell and the police took his bag away.

“Later that night, I was told by the police officers that all they found in my bag was 30 tala and some joints of marijuana.

“This was part of the evidence during the court case and I never got tell my story. I want to ask where did all the money in my bag go?”

Samoa’s Acting Police Commissioner, Fauono Talalelei Tapu, is vehemently denying that police took the cash. He said Ta‘ateo is more than welcome to lodge an official complaint.

Ta‘ateo said he would think about it: “All I want is to clear my name. I didn’t spend all that money.Some police officers mock me, I have been ridiculed all over the country but I want to tell my side.”

Ta‘ateo also accused the police of being unprofessional in the way they have treated him.

Prior to the theft in 2008, Ta‘ateo had served time in prison for a previous offence in 1989. Ta‘ateo said he was shot in the leg during an attempt to escape from prison.

“What I don’t understand is that I had no weapon on me,” he said. “I had my hands up in the air and I was not a threat when I was shot.

“Up until now, I’m still hurting. I’m limping because the pain has never gone away. The police never bothered to treat me and yet every time I come across some of these officers they are forever joking about what happened. They say things like ‘do you want us to shoot your other leg’.”

Ta‘ateo admitted that people will find it hard to believe him because of his past but he simply want to present his side of the story. “I don’t want the Police to think they can get away with everything. The truth will always come out.”

He is now self-employed and living at Lefaga where he has a plantation.