28 Apr 2004

US government lays fraud charge against American Samoa's former Chief Procurement Officer

10:37 am on 28 April 2004

American Samoa's former Chief Procurement Officer, Faau Seumanutafa, has been charged by the federal government with conspiracy to defraud the United States.

A complaint has been filed against the former director in the Federal District Court in Hawaii.

A complaint rather than an indictment is filed in cases where the defendant is cooperating with investigators.

Seumanutafa is scheduled to make his first appearance in the Honolulu District Court on the 21st of May.

The former director also faces 18 counts of stealing and 16 counts of violation of ethical conduct in connection with his handling of contracts for the supply of furniture to the Department of Education.

He made another appearance in American Samoa's High Court yesterday and was granted a fifth continuation of his pre-trial conference.