SAMOA – Samoa’s Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, has declined to comment on a million tala lawsuit being filed against him, the Minister of Police Sala Fata Pinati and the Ministry of Police by an unhappy member of the public.

Suitupe Misa, who was unlawfully arrested at gunpoint at the Fugalei market last year, filed the lawsuit with the Supreme Court recently.

During a press conference this week, police spokesperson Maotaoalii Kaioneta Kitiona relayed a message from the Commissioner.

“On behalf of the Police Commissioner, he said that the matter is already with the Court so all we can do is wait until the matter proceeds in Court,” said Maotaoalii.

“As for the lawsuit, that is a person’s individual right. We will let the Court decide and provide justice for the matter.”

In a document obtained by the Samoa Observer, Misa is suing the Minister of Police for a breach of statutory duty. According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff Misa argues that the first defendant, the minister of police, breached his duty under section 13 (3) of the Police Powers Act.

In particular, the minister is accused of failing to consider any exceptional circumstances to establish whether or not a police officer ought to be armed when the police arrested the plaintiff.

The second cause of action against the second defendant, police commissioner, is an alleged abuse of process.

“The second defendant received information from the first defendant that a person by the name of Suitupe apparently made threats to kill the first and second defendants, and other senior government officials,” says the statement of claim.

“The first defendant had also informed the second defendant of a witness who may verify the alleged threat. The second defendant however failed to verify the reliability of the alleged threat through direct enquiry with the witness referred to.

“The second defendant could have easily found out the truth regarding the alleged threat if he had made reasonable enquiries with the witness.

The second defendant used and relied on the apparent validity of the minister’s approval by ordering certain police officers including to be armed and to arrest the plaintiff upon confirmation of the plaintiff’s presence at the market.”

The police commssioner is accused of using the legal process in order to accomplish an ulterior purpose of oppression against the plaintiff.

Misa claims thaT Keil abused the process to effect an improper purpose.

The third cause of action is against the third defendant, the Ministry of Police it self, for unlawful arrest and unlawful detention.

“Accordingly the plaintiff’s detention was unlawful,” said the statement of claim.

“That the plaintiff’s unlawful arrest and unlawful detention deprived the plaintiff of his personal liberty, and the third defendant therefore breached the plaintiff’s right to liberty under Article 6 of the Constitution.”

A fourth cause of action is against the Ministry of Police for unlawful search.

The statement of claim pointed out that the circumstances under which the relevant police officers carried out the said searches did not justify an immediate search or a search without a warrant.

“The plaintiff was not committing any offence at the time of the searches,” the statement of claim stated.

“There was no reasonable ground to believe that the plaintiff was in possession of any narcotics or any other drugs or any dangerous weapon.

“The police officers who searched the plaintiff’s poloka and taxi did not identify themselves to the plaintiff or any other person operating the nearby poloka in the market, nor was any reference made to an authority used by the said police officers to carry out a search without a warrant.”

Furthermore the statement highlighted that as a result of the first defendant’s breach of statutory duty, the second defendant’s abuse of process, the third defendant’s unlawful arrest and unlawful detention of the plaintiff and the third defendant’s unlawful search of the plaintiff, Misa has suffered damages.

In particular, the plaintiff has suffered injury to liberty, injury to feelings, dignity and mental suffering, disgrace and humiliation.

Misa also claims he had suffered temporary confusion and shame experienced, temporary loss of physical comfort for a period of two to three hours from the time of the unlawful arrest until released at the Main police station.

In addition the plaintiff is also seeking damages for distress, anger, anxiety and uncertainty associated with his unlawful detention.

The plaintiff seeks against the first, second and third defendants jointly and the sum of 1,050,370 tala, approximately US$398,000.

The matter will be called again in the Supreme Court on August 8.

- Samoa Observer