1 Jun 2020

Associate Minister in Samoa referred to counselling after police complaint

1:00 pm on 1 June 2020

A serious allegation under police investigation has led to an Associate Minister in Samoa has been referred to counselling.

The Samoa Observer newspaper reported Sooalo Mene, the Associate Minister of Justice and Courts Administration had been investigated over a serious domestic dispute allegation.

The allegations surfaced after a police complaint was laid by Mr Mene's wife, the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons and Correction Services, Levaopolo Rosa Mene.

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil said the case did not meet the threshold to warrant an arrest and both parties had withdrawn their respective complaints.

"We've also consulted with [the] Office of the Attorney General on this particular matter, we've also reviewed the Family Safety Act and there are provisions in there that certain things should be done or can be done. So this case the partners do not want to pursue the case."

The matter had been referred to an authorised counselling agency.