11 Jun 2007

Samoa's Prime Minister disappointed with sexual allegation against peacekeeper

10:45 am on 11 June 2007

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says he is very disappointed with reports of sexual allegations involving a member of the police who was part of the United Nations peace keeping mission contingent to Liberia.

According to Tuila'epa, the police officer was charged in Liberia with raping a local woman.

The officer was then jailed but he was reportedly released after his fellow Samoan peace keepers had put in money to pay for his release.

The peace keeper according to the prime minister has recently returned home.

The prime minister says the Police commissioner, Papali'i Lorenese Neru, has made a decision against the officer.

But despite the prime minister's disappointment over the matter, he says the incident should not tarnish the hard work by other police officers who had

already served in peace keeping missions.