29 Aug 2019

Samoa PM assassination plot: Report of 4th arrest dismissed

2:58 pm on 29 August 2019

Samoa's police chief has dismissed a report that a fourth person has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate the prime minister.

Samoa Police Chief Fuiavailili Egon Keil

Samoa Police Chief Fuiavailili Egon Keil Photo: RNZ Pacific/Monica Miller

Earlier this month, police arrested and charged three suspects over the alleged plot to kill Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.

This week Newsline Samoa reported that police had arrested a fourth suspect.

But Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil said this was not true.

Fuiavailili also told KHJ News it was important the public continued to co-operate with police.

Matai in Laulii village, where one of the three defendants is from, alerted police about the plot, he said.

"So we're very grateful for that village that actually reported it to police. It allowed us to act on it," Fuiavailili said.

"Any threat against the leader of a country is a threat against the whole country."

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