Reports from Samoa say the principal accountant in the Ministry of Police and Prisons has been suspended as police investigations continue into the alleged misuse of 150,000 US dollars in public funds.
A police source has confirmed that the principal accountant has been suspended on instructions from the Minister of Police, Tole'afoa Apulu Fa'afisi, while awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
The assistant police commissioner and spokesperson, Papalii Li'o, was not immediately available for comment but a reliable police source says all employees of the accounts division are still being questioned while an overseas advisor working for the ministry is taking responsibility to queries from outside the office.
Meanwhile, the accountant, Taylor Miti, who is facing charges of theft as servant in relation to the case, will appear in court on Monday.